Wireless terminal apparatus and wireless power transmitter

ABSTRACT

A wireless power transfer system includes a wireless terminal apparatus, a wireless power transmitter, and a wireless base station (a wide-area base station and a narrow-area base station). The wireless base station creates schedule information containing allocation of wireless resources regarding the wireless data communication and the wireless power transfer on the basis of grasp of a request of the wireless data communication and a request of the wireless power transfer from the wireless terminal apparatus, and transmits the schedule information to the wireless power transmitter and the wireless terminal apparatus. The wireless power transmitter executes the wireless power transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus in accordance with the schedule information. The wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless power transfer from the wireless power transmitter in accordance with the schedule information, and executes the wireless data communication via the wireless base station.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2018/029039, filed on Aug. 2, 2018,the entire contents are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technique such as a wireless powertransfer system, a wireless communication system, a wireless terminalapparatus, and a wireless power transmitter. Further, the presentinvention relates to a technique of a wireless power transfer andwireless communication capable of utilizing electromagnetic waves suchas microwaves or millimeter waves.

BACKGROUND ART

As a wireless power transfer technique, a system for executing wirelesspower transfer from a wireless power transmitter to a wireless terminalapparatus has been developed. A system that executes wireless powertransfer over an access distance has already been realized. In recentyears, a system that executes wireless power transfer over a mediumdistance (for example, about several meters) has also been developed. Asa method of the wireless power transfer, there are several methods suchas a radio wave transmitting method, an electromagnetic inductionmethod, a magnetic resonance method, or an electric field couplingmethod, for example. In case of the radio wave transmitting method,wireless power transfer is executed by transmission of electromagneticwaves (for example, microwaves or millimeter waves) from a wirelesspower transmitter to a wireless terminal apparatus within a mediumdistance area.

As examples of a conventional technique regarding wireless powertransfer, Japanese Patent No. 5456380 (Patent document 1), JapanesePatent Application Publication No. 2017-139954 (Patent document 2), andJapanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-231252 (Patent document3) are cited. Patent document 1 describes a system for executingwireless power transfer with low output from a wireless power transferterminal to a wireless terminal apparatus in a wireless communicationnetwork. Patent document 2 describes a wireless electric powertransmitting system for supplying wireless charging to a device viamicrowave energy. Patent document 3 describes an electromagneticinduction type wireless power transmitting apparatus.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   Patent document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5456380-   Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.    2017-139954-   Patent document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.    2015-231252

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In wireless power transfer system that executes wireless power transferby using electromagnetic waves or a wireless communication system thatexecutes wireless communication (referred to also as “wireless datacommunication” in order to distinguish it from wireless communicationfor control) by using electromagnetic waves, both the wireless powertransfer and the wireless data communication may be executed. Forexample, both a wireless power transfer request from a wireless terminalapparatus and a wireless data communication request from the wirelessterminal apparatus or a wireless base station may be generated at closeng. In that case, undesired interference may occur between the wirelesspower transfer and the wireless data communication. As the interference,interference of frequencies of electromagnetic waves and a processingload when the both are processed at the same time are cited, forexample. For this reason, there are problems in view of efficiency,reliability, or convenience of a user with respect to the wireless powertransfer and the wireless data communication. Further, in a case where aplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses and a plurality of wirelesspower transmitters exist in an area that accepts a LAN (Local AreaNetwork) or the like, the plurality of wireless power transfers and theplurality of wireless data communications may be mixed (or coexist).Even in that case, there is a problem related to interference.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capableof preventing or reducing interference between wireless power transferand wireless data communication with respect to a technique of thewireless power transfer and the wireless data communication, whereby itis possible to improve efficiency, reliability, and convenience of auser

Means for Solving the Problem

A representative embodiment of the present invention is a wirelessterminal apparatus and a wireless power transmitter that constitute awireless power transfer system, and is characterized by including aconfiguration described below.

A wireless terminal apparatus according to one embodiment is a wirelessterminal apparatus constituting a wireless power transfer system. Thewireless power transfer system includes: the wireless terminal apparatusas a target of wireless power transfer; a wireless power transmitterconfigured to execute the wireless power transfer to the wirelessterminal apparatus; and a wireless base station configured to relaywireless data communication of the wireless terminal apparatus. In thiscase, the wireless base station creates schedule information forpreventing or reducing interference regarding the wireless datacommunication and the wireless power transfer on a basis of grasp of arequest of the wireless data communication and a request of the wirelesspower transfer of the wireless terminal apparatus, and transmits theschedule information to the wireless power transmitter and the wirelessterminal apparatus, the schedule information containing allocation ofwireless resources to the wireless data communication and the wirelesspower transfer. The wireless power transmitter executes the wirelesspower transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus in accordance with theschedule information. The wireless terminal apparatus receives thewireless power transfer from the wireless power transmitter inaccordance with the schedule information, and executes the wireless datacommunication via the wireless base station.

A wireless power transmitter according to one embodiment is a wirelesspower transmitter constituting a wireless power transfer system. Thewireless power transfer system includes: a wireless terminal apparatusas a target of wireless power transfer; the wireless power transmitterconfigured to execute wireless power transfer to the wireless terminalapparatus; and a wireless base station configured to relay wireless datacommunication of the wireless terminal apparatus. In this case, thewireless base station creates schedule information for preventing orreducing interference regarding the wireless data communication and thewireless power transfer on a basis of grasp of a request of the wirelessdata communication and a request of the wireless power transfer of thewireless terminal apparatus, and transmits the schedule information tothe wireless power transmitter and the wireless terminal apparatus, theschedule information containing al location of wireless resources to thewireless data communication and the wireless power transfer. Thewireless power transmitter executes the wireless power transfer to thewireless terminal apparatus in accordance with the schedule information.The wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless power transferfrom the wire less power transmitter in accordance with the scheduleinformation, and executes the wireless data communication via thewireless base station.

Effects of the Invention

According to the representative embodiment of the present invention,with respect to the technique of wireless power transfer and wirelessdata communication, it is possible to prevent or reduce interferencebetween the wireless power transfer and the wireless data communication,and this makes it possible to improve efficiency, reliability, andconvenience of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a wireless powertransfer system including a wireless terminal apparatus and a wirelesspower transmitter according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating another configuration example of thewireless power transfer system;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating still another configuration example of thewireless power transfer system;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a configuration example of an area of thewireless power transfer system and a usage scene thereof;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a first communication system according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a configuration of the wireless terminalapparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a configuration of an antenna switch andthe like of the wireless terminal apparatus according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a configuration of the wireless terminalapparatus according to a modification example of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a configuration example of appearance ofthe wireless terminal apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a configuration example of a crosssection of the wireless terminal apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 ;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a configuration of the wireless powertransmitter according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a configuration example of appearance ofthe wireless power transmitter according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing illustrating a relationship of Line ofSight between the wireless power transmitter and the wireless terminalapparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of a state where a user holdsthe wireless terminal apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a processing flow of wireless terminalapparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a processing flow of the wireless powertransmitter according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a configuration example of a scheduleaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a sequence among apparatuses duringwireless data communication according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a first sequence among the apparatusesaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating a second sequence among the apparatusesaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a third sequence among the apparatusesaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a view illustrating a configuration example of a schedulecorresponding to a case of FIG. 21 ;

FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a location managing function according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a second communication system accordingto a modification example of the first embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a view illustrating an example of interference in a wirelesspower transfer system according to a comparative example;

FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a configuration of a wireless powertransfer system including a wireless terminal apparatus and a wirelesspower transmitter according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a sequence among apparatuses according tothe second embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a view illustrating a configuration of a wireless terminalapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a view illustrating a first example of scheduling in awireless power transfer system including a wireless terminal apparatusand a wireless power transmitter according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 30 is a view illustrating a second example of the scheduling in thewireless power transfer system including the wireless terminal apparatusand the wireless power transmitter according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings. Note that in each of theembodiments, “wireless data communication” indicates wirelesscommunication that is a control target related to interferenceprevention in a wireless power transfer system.

[Problems and the Like]

Prerequisite techniques, problems, and the like will be describedsupplementary. In the wireless power transfer system according to theconventional technique example, for example, as described in Patentdocument 1, electromagnetic waves having at least one frequency are usedat the time of wireless power transfer from a wireless power transmitterto a wireless terminal apparatus. Further, the wireless terminalapparatus executes wireless data communication with a wireless basestation by using the electromagnetic waves having the at least onefrequency in a case where timing or frequency between these wirelesspower transfer and wireless data communication match, interference orinefficiency may occur. Interference may cause one to interfere with theother such as a situation that wireless data communication for executingwireless power transfer cannot be executed or a situation that wirelesspower transfer for executing wireless data communication cannot beexecuted, for example. Alternatively, interference may cause a situationthat efficiency of wireless power transfer is reduced or a situationthat efficiency of wireless data communication is reduced. Further, in acase where an apparatus has to process a plurality of wireless powertransfers or a plurality of wireless data communications at the sametime, there is a possibility to become a situation that a processingload becomes too high. Each of the conventional technique examples doesnot describe a method of avoiding such a situation or a method ofprocessing the both efficiently.

Further, for example, Patent document 3 describes an electromagneticinduction method. In case of such a method, effective electric powercannot be supplied unless a wireless power transmitter and a wirelessterminal apparatus are brought close to each other within an area of apredetermined near distance (for example, several centimeters). In awireless power transfer system using a radio wave transmitting method orthe like, a user can carry out wireless power transfer in a state wherethe wireless terminal apparatus is separated from a location of thewireless power transmitter by a medium distance (for example, severalmeters), which is worth in view of convenience and the like. In thiscase, at the time of the wireless power transfer from the wireless powertransmitter to the wireless terminal apparatus as a target, there is apossibility of interference with wireless power transfer or wirelessdata communication executed by another apparatus existing around there.

Further, in particular, in a case where wireless power transfer using amillimeter wave band is to be executed, high accuracy is required for alocation relationship between a wireless power transmitter and awireless terminal apparatus due to characteristics of millimeter waves.In a case where there is a shielding object on a straight lineconnecting the wireless power transmitter to the wireless terminalapparatus, or in a case where a location or a direction of an antenna isnot suitable, there is a possibility that the wireless power transfercannot be realized efficiently. In the conventional technique examples,interference and efficiency related to the wireless power transfer ofthe millimeter waves have not been considered sufficiently. Note thatthe millimeter waves (EHF) are electromagnetic waves having a wavelengthof 1 to 10 mm and frequency of 30 to 300 GHz,

Further, a case where a wireless terminal apparatus includes acommunication interface (or a wireless communication interface device)that handles plural types of electromagnetic waves and a case where awireless power transmitter includes a power transmitter that handlesplural types of electromagnetic waves are assumed. As the plural typesof electromagnetic waves, microwaves and millimeter waves are assumed,for example. In the conventional technique examples, interference andefficiency when plural types of electromagnetic waves are handled alsohave not been considered sufficiently.

Comparative Example

FIG. 25 illustrates a case of interference in a wireless power transfersystem according to a comparative example. A narrow-area base station92, a wireless power transmitter 93, and a wireless terminal apparatus94 are arranged in an area 901. The narrow-area base station 92 isconnected to a wide-area base station 91. The wireless terminalapparatus 94 includes wireless terminal apparatuses 941 to 943 as anexample of a plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses. The wirelessterminal apparatus 941 executes wireless data communication C1, andreceives a wireless power transfer W1. The wireless terminal apparatus942 executes wireless data communication C2, and receives a wirelesspower transfer W2. The wireless terminal apparatus 943 executes wirelessdata communication C3, and receives a wireless power transfer W3. Forexample, there is a possibility that interference occurs among these sixoperations.

Note that with respect to a portion of the plurality of wireless datacommunications (the wireless data communications C1 to C3),conventionally, scheduling, for example, allocation of differentfrequencies (also called as “channels”) is generally executed by awireless base station so that interference does not occur. However, withrespect to a portion of the plurality of wireless power transfers (thewireless power transfers W1 to W3), conventionally, interferenceincluding a relationship of the wireless data communications C1 to C3 isnot fully considered, and scheduling for preventing interference is notexecuted.

Moreover, in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 25 , it is assumedthat two types of electromagnetic waves including microwaves andmillimeter wave can be used as electromagnetic waves related to radiowaves. In this case, four types of operations including (1) wirelessdata communication of microwaves, (2) wireless data communication ofmillimeter waves, (3) wireless power transfer of microwaves, and (4)wireless power transfer of millimeter waves may be generated. There isalso a problem such as interference with respect to these operations

First Embodiment

A wireless power transfer system including a wireless terminal apparatusand a wireless power transmitter according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 24. An outline and basic functions according to the first embodiment areas follows.

-   -   (1) This wireless power transfer system has a mechanism to        execute scheduling in view of interference between wireless        power transfer and wireless data communication and the whole        efficiency thereof. For example, the wireless base station has a        function to execute scheduling. The wireless base station        allocates wireless resources (each including a time and a        frequency) to the wireless data communication and the wireless        power transfer thus requested so that interference is prevented        or reduced, and creates a schedule. The wireless terminal        apparatus and the wireless power transmitter according to the        first embodiment have a function to request scheduling to the        wireless base station. Each of the wireless terminal apparatus        and the wireless power transmitter transmits information on a        state on its own apparatus and a request, and obtains schedule        information from the wireless base station. Each of the wireless        terminal apparatus and the wireless power transmitter controls        execution of the wireless power transfer and the wireless data        communication in accordance with the schedule information.    -   (2) In this wireless power transfer system, at the time of        scheduling, for example, various kinds of methods such as a        method of dividing a time by the wireless power transfer and the        wireless data communication, a method of dividing a frequency, a        method of separating antennas, or a method of separating types        of electromagnetic waves are used.    -   (3) The wireless terminal apparatus according to the first        embodiment includes a communication interface that deals with        plural types of electromagnetic waves, in particular, millimeter        waves and microwaves. The wireless power transmitter according        to the first embodiment includes a power transmitter that deals        with plural types of electromagnetic waves, in particular, mill        meter waves and microwaves. The wireless terminal apparatus        according to the first embodiment switches states of an antenna        of the communication interface so as to execute power reception        of wireless power transfer or wireless data communication in        accordance with schedule information. The wireless power        transmitter according to the first embodiment switches states of        an antenna of the power transmitter so as to execute wireless        power transfer in accordance with the schedule information.

[Wireless Power Transfer System (1)]

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration outline of a wireless power transfersystem according to the first embodiment. In other words, this wirelesspower transfer system is a wireless communication system. This wirelesspower transfer system includes a global base station (wide-area basestation) 1, a local base station (narrow-area base station) 2, awireless power transmitter 3, and a wireless terminal apparatus 4. Oneor more narrow-area base stations 2, one or more wireless powertransmitters 3, and one or more wireless terminal apparatuses 4 areprovided within a predetermined area 101. The area 101 is an areadealing with a wireless LAN, such as a home or an office. One or moreusers respectively uses the wireless terminal apparatus 4 and the likein the area 101. The wide-area base station 1 and the narrow-area basestation 2 are connected by an optical fiber or wirelessly. Thenarrow-area base station 2, the wireless power transmitter 3, and thewireless terminal apparatus 4 are wirelessly connected to each other(illustrated by broken lines). The narrow-area base station 2 may beconnected to the wireless power transmitter 3 via optical fibers. Thewireless power transmitter 3 is wirelessly connected to the wirelessterminal apparatus 4. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 is a portableinformation terminal apparatus such as a smartphone or a tabletterminal, for example, and is possessed by a user.

This wireless power transfer system includes the wide-area base station1 and the narrow-area base station 2 as wireless base stations. Each ofthe wireless base stations is an apparatus that communicates with thewireless terminal apparatus 4 and the wireless power transmitter 3, andrelays wireless data communication of the wireless terminal apparatus 4.The wide-area base station 1 constitutes a core network of a wirelesscommunication network (or a mobile network), and may be called a macrobase station or the like. The wide-area base station 1 is a base stationthat covers a distance range from several hundred meters to tens ofkilometers, for example. The Internet and the like are connected to thewireless communication network. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 andthe like are also allowed to execute wire less data communication with aserver apparatus on the Internet.

The narrow-area base station 2 is connected to the wide-area basestation 1 for communication, for example, and corresponds to anapparatus such as an access point or a router, which constitutes awireless LAN. The narrow-area base station 2 is a base station thatcovers a distance range from several meters to several tens of meters,for example. The narrow-area base station 2 may be called a small basestation, a spot base station, a femto base station, an ultra small basestation, or the like in accordance with the radius of an area that cancover wireless communication, and is a generic term including all ofthem.

In the configuration example of FIG. 1 , the wireless power transmitter3 and the narrow-area base station 2 are independent from each other,and are installed at locations separated from each other. The wirelesspower transmitter 3 and the narrow-area base station 2 cooperate witheach other by communication. Note that the wireless power transmitter 3and the narrow-area base station 2 may be arranged at substantially thesame location.

The wireless power transmitter 3 has a wireless power transfer functionfor executing wireless power transfer for the wireless terminalapparatus 4. The wireless power transmitter 3 executes a wireless powertransfer W1 to the wireless terminal apparatus 4. The wireless powertransmitter 3 also has a wireless communication function with thenarrow-area base station 2 and a wireless communication function withthe wireless terminal apparatus 4, and executes control communicationand the like by using the wireless communication function.

The wireless terminal apparatus 4 has a wireless data communicationfunction and a function for receiving wireless power transfer from thewireless power transmitter 3. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 executeswireless data communication C1 with another wireless terminal apparatusor the other apparatus via wireless communication with the narrow-areabase station 2. Wireless data communication Ca in a receiving directionand wireless data communication Cb in a transmitting direction areincluded as the wireless data communication C1. The wireless datacommunication Ca is wireless data communication in the receivingdirection to the wireless terminal apparatus 4 via a wireless basestation from the outside of the area 101, for example, another remotewireless terminal apparatus. The wireless data communication Cb iswireless data communication in the transmitting direction to the outsideof the area 101, for example, another remote wireless terminal apparatusfrom the wireless terminal apparatus 4. The wireless data communicationC1 is realized by known procedures of establishing a connection,transmitting or receiving data in a connection state, and disconnectingthe connection.

In this wireless power transfer system, the wireless base station, inparticular, the wide-area base station 1 has a scheduling function 102.In corresponding thereto, the wireless power transmitter 3 has ascheduling request function 103, and the wireless terminal apparatus 4has a scheduling request function 104. The scheduling function 102 is afunction to create a schedule including allocation of wireless resourceswith respect to both wireless power transfer and wireless datacommunication related to the wireless power transmitter 3 and thewireless terminal apparatus 4. Each of the scheduling request functions103 and 104 is a function to transmit information or a request to thescheduling function 102; obtain schedule information; manage executionof wireless power transfer and wireless data communication in accordancewith the schedule information. This scheduling determines allocation ofa time, a frequency, and antennas so that interference of both thewireless power transfer and the wireless data communication is preventedor reduced.

[Wireless Power Transfer System (2)]

FIG. 2 illustrates another configuration example of the wireless powertransfer system. In the wireless power transfer system illustrated inFIG. 2 , a wireless power transmitter 3 is established at the samelocation as an integrated type with a narrow-area base station 2, whichcooperates with each other. In other words, functions of the wirelesspower transmitter 3 and functions of the narrow-area base station 2 areimplemented as one device. This device is a wireless base station devicewith a wireless power transfer function or a wireless power transmitterwith a wireless base station function. This one apparatus is describedas a wireless base station power transmitter 5.

Further, in the configuration example of FIG. 2 , a case where aplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4, for example, threewireless terminal apparatuses 41, 42, and 43 exists within the area 101with respect to one wireless base station power transmitter 5 and theyare respectively connected to each other wirelessly is illustrated. Eachof the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41 to 43) iscapable of wireless data communication and wireless power transfer withthe narrow-area base station 2 (the wireless base station powertransmitter 5). Each of the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4(41 to 43) may mutually execute wireless communication via thenarrower-area base station 2 (the wireless base station powertransmitter 5). The wireless communication is also included in thewireless data communication as a scheduling target.

Further, in the configuration example of FIG. 2 , as wireless datacommunication, a case where the plurality of wireless terminalapparatuses 4 (41 to 43) mutually and directly communicates with theother apparatus in the vicinity without going through the wireless basestation (the narrow-area base station 2) (multiple-apparatus connectiondata communication, will be described later) is also illustrated.Examples of this communication are illustrated as communications MM1,MM2, MM3. This communication may be realized by short-range wirelesscommunication using an interface such as Bluetooth (registeredtrademark), for example. This type of wireless communication is alsoincluded in the wireless data communication as the scheduling target.

Further, in the wireless power transfer system in the configurationexample of FIG. 2 , a PC is wirelessly connected to the narrow-area basestation 2 and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 within the area 101 asthe other device 6, for example. In this case, the wireless terminalapparatus 4 is capable of wireless data communication CX with the otherdevice 6 (PC). This wireless data communication CX can be included n thewireless data communication as the scheduling target.

[Wireless Power Transfer System (3)]

FIG. 3 illustrates still another configuration example of the wirelesspower transfer system as a modification example. In this wireless powertransfer system, a plurality (for example, two) of wireless powertransmitters 3 (31, 32) is wirelessly connected to one narrow-area basestation. 2 within the area 101. Further, one wireless terminal apparatus4 is wirelessly connected to the plurality (for example, two) ofwireless power transmitters 3 (31, 32). In this case, the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 can receive wireless power transfer with any of thewireless power transmitters 3. Moreover, in still another configurationexample, the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 may bewirelessly connected to each of the wireless power transmitters 3.

[Usage Scene]

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of an area 101 in the wirelesspower transfer system illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like and an exampleof a usage scene. The area 101 is associated with a floor of a company,for example. One or more narrow-area base stations 2 and one or morewireless power transmitters 3 are installed in the area 101. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 4 , each of five wireless power transmitters3 is wirelessly connected to one narrow-area base station 2. Powertransfer areas 501 and 502 are provided within the area 101 as powertransfer areas. One or more wireless power transmitters 3 are installedin each power transfer area, which is an area or a spot where wirelesspower transfer is allowed. The required number of wireless powertransmitters 3 is installed so that power transfer areas are constitutedin all area or a part area of the area 101 in accordance with needs. Thewireless power transmitters 3 can be added, removed, or moved inaccordance with the needs. A power transferable range of each of thewireless power transmitters 3 is indicated by a circle. This rangeindicates a range corresponding to a medium distance (about severalmeters) in a case where wireless power transfer by millimeter waves isexecuted in a radio wave transmitting method, for example. The user inthe area 101 can receive wireless power transfer by appropriatelybringing his or her wireless terminal apparatus 4 in a power transferarea as needed.

In the present embodiment, one wireless power transmitter 3 (3 e) isinstalled in the power transfer area 501. Four wireless powertransmitters 3 (3 a to 3 d) are installed in the power transfer area502. In particular, power transferable ranges of the respective wirelesspower transmitters 3 may be configured so as to overlap with each otherlike the power transfer area 502. In case of the power transfer area502, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 of the user can receive wirelesspower transfer so long as the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is withinthe range of any of the wireless power transmitters 3 (3 a to 3 d).

The user may change an installation location of the wireless powertransmitter 3 within the area 101 in accordance with needs. Locations ofthe narrow-area base station 2 and the wireless power transmitter 3 areset in advance at the time of system installation, and informationthereof is manage. In a case where the location of the wireless powertransmitter 3 is changed, a location on setting is also updated. Forexample, the setting of a relative location of the wireless powertransmitter 3 with respect to the narrow-area base station 2 is updated.Note that at that time, the narrow-area base station 2 may detect thelocation of the wireless power transmitter 3 and update the setting, orthe wireless power transmitter 3 may detect the location thereof andnotify the narrow-area base station 2 of it, thereby updating thesetting.

As another configuration example, a plurality of wireless powertransmitters 3 may be installed at an adjacent and dense location in thepower transfer area. Further, a wireless power transmitter capable of aconventional adjacent type wireless power transfer and a correspondingwireless terminal apparatus may be mixed within the area 101.

[Wireless Power Transfer Method]

The wireless power transfer system between the wireless powertransmitter 3 and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is not limitedbasically. However, the radio wave transmitting method is usedparticularly in the first embodiment. In the radio wave transmittingmethod, a medium distance (about several meters) is set as apower-transmittable distance where the wireless power transmitter 3covers, and wireless power transfer is possible within a range of thedistance. In a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4 existswithin this range, it is possible to receive the wireless powertransfer. In the radio wave transmitting method, the wireless powertransmitter 3 (in other words, a power transmitter) converts electricpower into electromagnetic waves, and transmits the electromagneticwaves from an antenna. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 (in otherwords, a power receiving apparatus) receives the electromagnetic wavesby the antenna, converts them into electric power, and uses the electricpower, for example, charges a battery.

Further, in the first embodiment, microwaves or millimeter waves can beused as the electromagnetic waves in the radio wave transmitting method.The wireless terminal apparatus 4 includes a communication interfacethat deals with these plural types of electromagnetic waves. Thewireless power transmitter 3 includes a power transmitter that dealswith the plural types of electromagnetic waves.

[Scheduling Function and Scheduling Request Function]

Generally, a wireless base station manages and grasps a wirelesscommunication status of a predetermined area (the area 101 in FIG. 1 ).For this reason, in this wireless power transfer system, the wirelessbase station executes scheduling related to wireless data communicationand wireless power transfer. In the first embodiment, the wide-area basestation 1 includes the scheduling function 102 that is a function toexecute the scheduling. In another embodiment, the narrow-area basestation 2 may include the scheduling function 102. The wireless terminalapparatus 4 and the wireless power transmitter 3 includes a function(the scheduling request functions 103 and 104) to transmit informationfor reflecting the scheduling and a request thereof to the narrow-areabase station 2 and the wide-area base station 1.

In a case where two types of requests of wireless power transfer andwireless data communication are generated in the area 101, in a casewhere a wireless power transfer request is generated during execution ofwireless data communication, or in a case where a wireless datacommunication request is generated during execution of wireless powertransfer, the wide-area base station 1 executes scheduling by means ofthe scheduling function 102. Specifically, as a method of thescheduling, between one or more wireless power transfer and one or morewireless data communication, there is a method of dividing a time, amethod of dividing frequency, a method of separating antennas, and thelike. A method of combining the respective methods can be executed.

The wireless terminal apparatus 4 and the wireless power transmitter 3according to the first embodiment cause the wireless base station (thenarrow-area base station 2 and the wide-area base station to executescheduling and create a suitable schedule in cooperation with them. Thismakes it possible to efficiently execute wireless power transfer andwireless data communication as a whole in accordance with the schedulewithout interference of the wireless power transfer and the wirelessdata communication.

[Scheduling Method (1)—Time Division Separation Method]

As a scheduling method, a time division separation method is as follows.

-   -   (1-1) For example, in FIG. 1 , in a case where two requests of a        request of the wireless power transfer 1 and a request of the        wireless data communication C1 are generated in substantially        the same time zone with respect to the wireless terminal        apparatus 4, scheduling is executed as follows. As a first        example of a schedule, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is        first caused to execute the wireless power transfer W1 in a        first time, and is next caused to execute the wireless data        communication C1 in a second time. Alternatively, as a second        example of the schedule, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is        first caused to execute the wireless data communication C1 in        the first time, and is next caused to execute the wireless power        transfer W1 in the second time.

Whether any of the wireless power transfer and the wireless datacommunication is first to be executed is determined in accordance withtypes of the wireless power transfer and the wireless data communicationat that time, priority or urgency, a state of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 and the like. For example, in a case where a charging statevalue (a charging rate or the like) of the battery of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 is equal to or less than a threshold value, it isdetermined that priority is high, and the wireless power transfer isfirst executed. In a case where the charging state value of the batteryof the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is larger than the threshold value,it is determined that priority is low, and the wireless power transferis executed later.

-   -   (1-2) Further, for example, in FIG. 2 , in a case where there        are requests of a plurality of wireless power transfers        regarding the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 in        substantially the same time zone, scheduling is executed so that        a time is divided in the plurality of wireless power transfers.        For example, there are the wireless power transfer W1 to the        wireless terminal apparatus 41 and the wireless power transfer        W2 to the wireless terminal apparatus 42. In that case, as a        first example of a schedule, the wireless terminal apparatus 41        is first caused to execute the wireless power transfer W1 in a        first time, and the wireless terminal apparatus 42 is next        caused to execute the wireless power transfer W2 in a second        time. Alternatively, as a second example of the schedule, the        wireless terminal apparatus 42 is first caused to execute the        wireless power transfer W2 in the first time, and the wireless        terminal apparatus 41 is next caused to execute the wireless        power transfer W1 in the second time.    -   (1-3) Further, in a case where an antenna provided in the        communication interface of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is        an antenna that can be shared by wireless power transfer and        wireless data communication (referred to as a “shared antenna”),        the shared antenna is shared by the wireless power transfer and        the wireless data communication, and scheduling can be executed        so that a time is divided. The wireless terminal apparatus 4        switches the shared antenna between at the time of the wireless        power transfer and at the time of the wireless data        communication in accordance with the schedule. The wireless        terminal apparatus 4 has a configuration of hardware and        software including an antenna switch capable of such switching        (will be described later).

[Scheduling Method (2)—Frequency Division Separation Method]

As the scheduling method, a frequency division separation method is asfollows.

-   -   (2-1) For example, in FIG. 1 , in a case where two requests of a        request of the wireless power transfer and a request of the        wireless data communication are generated in substantially the        same time zone with respect to a certain wireless terminal        apparatus 4, scheduling is executed so as to use different        frequencies as follows. As a first example of a schedule, a        first frequency is allocated to the wireless power transfer W1,        and a different second frequency is allocated to the wireless        data communication C1. A frequency to be used is selected among        available frequencies at that time and allocated. Note that in        case of this method, in a case where there is no problem in        interference between electromagnetic waves with the frequencies        to be used, the wireless power transfer and the wireless data        communication using these frequencies may be executed in the        same time zone.    -   (2-2) Further, in FIG. 2 , in a case where there are requests of        a plurality of wireless power transfers regarding the plurality        of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 in substantially the same        time zone, scheduling is executed so that frequencies are        divided in the plurality of wireless power transfers. As a first        example of a schedule, a first frequency is allocated to the        wireless power transfer W1 of the wireless terminal apparatus        41, and different second frequency is allocated to the wireless        power transfer W2 of the wireless terminal apparatus 42. For        example, in a case where a plurality of frequencies can be        switched in the communication interface of the wireless terminal        apparatus 4, it can be addressed by switching of frequencies in        the communication interface. Alternatively, in a case where a        plurality of communication interfaces according to frequencies        is provided as the communication interface of the wireless        terminal apparatus 4, it can be addressed by switching of the        communication interfaces to be used.

[Scheduling Method (3)—Antenna Separating Method]

As the scheduling method, an antenna separating method is as follows.The communication interface of the wireless terminal apparatus 4includes a plurality of available antennas. For example, in FIG. 1 , ina case where two requests of a request of the wireless power transfer W1and a request of the wireless data communication C1 are generated insubstantially the same time zone with respect to a certain wirelessterminal apparatus 4, scheduling is executed so as to use differentantennas as follows. As an example of a schedule, a first antenna isallocated to the wireless power transfer W1, and a second antenna isallocated to the wireless data communication C1. Note that in case ofthis method, in a case where there is no problem in interference betweenthe antennas to be used, the wireless power transfer and the wirelessdata communication using the plurality of antennas may be in the sametime zone. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 uses an antenna switch andthe like to switch the antennas to be used.

[Scheduling Method (4)—Millimeter Waves/Microwaves Separating Method]

As the scheduling method, a millimeter wave/microwave separating method,that is, a method of separating types of electromagnetic waves(millimeter waves and microwaves) and corresponding communicationinterfaces between wireless power transfer and wireless datacommunication is as follows. The communication interface of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 includes a plurality of communication interfacesfor which the types of electromagnetic waves to be used (for example,millimeter waves, microwaves) are different from, each other. Forexample, in FIG. 1 , in a case where two requests of a request of thewireless power transfer W1 and a request of the wireless datacommunication C1 are generated in substantially the same time zone withrespect to a certain the wireless terminal apparatus 4, scheduling isexecuted so as to use different types of electromagnetic waves asfollows. As an example of a schedule, a communication interface formillimeter waves is allocated to the wireless power transfer W1, and acommunication interface for microwaves is allocated to the wireless datacommunication C1.

[Communication System (1)]

Hereinafter, detail s of the first embodiment will further be described.FIG. 5 illustrates a first communication system according to the firstembodiment. The first communication system illustrates an example of adetailed communication system when wireless power transfer and wirelessdata communication are processed on the basis of scheduling among awide-area base station 1, a narrow-area base station 2, a wireless powertransmitter 3, and a wireless terminal apparatus 4. In the firstcommunication system, the wide-area base station executes thescheduling. Further, in the first communication system, a wireless powertransfer request from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is transmittedto a wireless base station (the narrow-area base station 2).

There are one wireless terminal apparatus 4 (whose ID=MT1), one wirelesspower transmitter 3 (whose ID=SP1), and one narrow-area base station 2(whose ID=ST1) in an area 101. Wireless data communication C1 andwireless power transfer W1 regarding the wireless terminal apparatus 4(MT1), which is a target of scheduling, are illustrated. The wirelessdata communication C1 is communication from the wireless terminalapparatus 4 (MT1) to another wireless terminal apparatus of the outsideor communication from another wireless terminal apparatus of the outsideto the wireless terminal apparatus 4 (MT1), for example. The wirelesspower transfer W1 is a wireless power transfer from the wireless powertransmitter 3 (SP1) to the wireless terminal apparatus 4 (MT1).

FIG. 5 illustrates procedures WR1 to WR5 as communication proceduresregarding a request of the wireless power transfer W1. In the procedureWR1, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a wireless powertransfer request to the narrow-area base station 2. In the procedureWR2, the narrow-area base station 2 transmits the wireless powertransfer request from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 to the wide-areabase station 1. In the procedure WR3, the wide-area base station 1transmits schedule information and the like to the narrow-area basestation 2 after scheduling is executed. In the procedure WR4, thenarrow-area base station 2 transmits the schedule information and thelike to the wireless power transmitter 3. Further, in the procedure WR5,the narrow-area base station 2 transmits the schedule information andthe like to the wireless terminal apparatus 4.

Procedures CR1 to CR5 are illustrated as communication proceduresregarding a request of the wireless data communication C1. In theprocedure CR1, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a request ofconnection of wireless data communication to the narrow-area basestation 2. In the procedure CR2, the narrow-area base station 2transmits the request from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 to thewide-area base station 1. In the procedure CR3, the wide-area basestation 1 transmits schedule information and the like to the narrow-areabase station 2 after scheduling is executed. In the procedure CR4, thenarrow-area base station 2 transmits the schedule information and thelike to the wireless power transmitter 3. Further, in the procedure CR5,the narrow-area base station 2 transmits the schedule information andthe like to the wireless terminal apparatus 4.

An example of the scheduling is as follows. The wide-area base station 1executes the latest scheduling according to a situation at that timewhen the request is received in the procedure WR2 and when the requestis received in the procedure CR2. Further, in a case where there areboth the request of the wireless power transfer W1 and the request ofthe wireless data communication C1, the wide-area base station 1determines a schedule by the time division separation method describedabove. For example, a first time T1 and a first frequency F1 areallocated to the wireless power transfer W1. A second time T2 and asecond frequency F2 are allocated to the wireless data communication C1.The wide-area base station 1 transmits schedule information containingsuch information on allocation (schedule information J3 and scheduleinformation J4) to the wireless power transmitter 3 and the wirelessterminal apparatus 4. Note that the content of the schedule informationJ3 corresponds to the content of the schedule information J4.

The wireless power transmitter 3 executes the wireless power transfer W1for the wireless terminal apparatus 4 with the first time T1 and thefirst frequency F1 in accordance with the obtained schedule informationJ3. In corresponding thereto, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 receivesthe wireless power transfer W1 from the wireless power transmitter 3 inaccordance with the obtained schedule information J4. Further, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 executes the wireless data communicationC1 with the second time T2 and the second frequency F2 in accordancewith the schedule information J4.

As described above, in the first communication system, each of thewide-area base station 1, the narrow-area base station 2, and thewireless power transmitter 3 grasps states of the wireless powertransfer W1 and the wireless data communication C1 regarding thewireless terminal apparatus 4 as a target though the scheduling. Then,each apparatus processes the wireless power transfer W1 and the wirelessdata communication C1 in accordance with a schedule.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus (1-1)]

FIG. 6 illustrates a block configuration of the wireless terminalapparatus 4. It illustrates a case where this wireless terminalapparatus 4 is a portable information terminal apparatus such as asmartphone. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 includes a processor 401,a memory 402, a sensor 403, a camera 404, a microphone 405, a speaker406, a display 407, an LED 408, a communication interface 410, an AC-DCconverter 421, a charging control circuit 422, a battery 423, an ACadapter 424, and the like, and they are connected to each other via abus or the like. The communication interface 410 includes a firstcommunication interface 411, a second communication interface 412, and athird communication interface 413. The communication interface 410 is awireless communication interface apparatus

The battery 423 is fitted to the charging control circuit 422. The AC-DCconverter 421 is connected to the charging control circuit 422. Anantenna switch 71 of the first communication interface 411 is connectedto the AC-DC converter 421. The AC adapter 424 can be connected to thecharging control circuit 422 in a case where a remaining amount of thebattery 423 (charged electric power) is not sufficient to operate thewireless terminal apparatus 4. In a state where the AC adapter 424 isconnected thereto, electric power supplied from commercial power sourcecan be charged to the battery 423 from the AC adapter 424 via thecharging control circuit 422.

Each of antenna switches 71 to 73 is an element for switching an antennaand a circuit to be used in accordance with a schedule and a purpose.Each of the antenna switches 71 to 73 is provided between thecorresponding antenna and the corresponding circuit. In theconfiguration example illustrated in FIG. 6 , only the antenna switch 71of the first communication interface 411 among the antenna switches 71to 73 is connected to the AC-DC converter 421. Namely, in thisconfiguration, a wireless power transfer when charging to the battery423 is possible from only the first communication interface 411 (anantenna 61). In accordance with a connection state of the antenna switch71, AC electric power from the antenna 61 is converted into DC electricpower by the AC-DC converter 421, and is supplied to the chargingcontrol circuit 422.

The processor 401 is configured by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like, andexecutes a control of the whole wireless terminal apparatus 4. Theprocessor 401 controls each communication interface of the communicationinterface 410 (antenna switches 71 to 73 and circuit 81 to 83). Theprocessor 401 includes a communication controller 401A, an electricpower manager 401B, an antenna controller 401C, and a schedule manager401D as processing units configured by software program processing orhardware circuit. Programs, various kinds of data, setting information,and the like are stored in the memory 402. Data obtained by wirelesscommunication (containing schedule information J4) and image dataphotographed by the camera 404 are stored in the memory 402, forexample.

The sensor 403 is known sensor devices including a GPS sensor, a gyrosensor, an acceleration sensor, an electromagnetic compass, anilluminance sensor, and a proximity sensor. The GPS sensor obtainslocation information of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. The gyrosensor obtains information regarding inclination, rotation, and adirection of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. The acceleration sensorobtains information regarding acceleration. The illuminance sensorobtains information regarding brightness. The proximity sensor obtainsinformation regarding a proximity state of objects. The microphone 405and the speaker 406 are used to input and output audio. The display 407is a touch panel, for example, and also receives a touch inputoperation. The LED 408 is used for illumination of the camera 404.Further, although it will be described later, the LED 408 includes anLED used to let the user know a location of the antenna 61 of millimeterwaves by means of light emission.

The first communication interface 411 is a communication interface thatexecutes wireless communication with the narrow-area base station 2 orthe other terminal by using millimeter waves. The second communicationinterface 412 is a communication interface that executes wirelesscommunication with the narrow-area base station 2 or the other terminalby using microwaves. The third communication interface 413 is acommunication interface that executes wireless communication amongadjacent apparatuses by Bluetooth in the present embodiment.

The first communication interface 411 includes an antenna 61, an antennaswitch 71, and a circuit 81. The antenna 61 is an antenna that cantransmit and receive by using millimeter waves as electromagnetic wave.The antenna 61 of the first communication interface 411 is basically anarray antenna. The antenna 61 can be used as an antenna combined with alens. The circuit 81 is a circuit such as a wireless IC in whichwireless communication interface processing is implemented, and executesprocessing of transmission and reception regarding wirelesscommunication using millimeter waves on the basis of a control of theprocessor 401. The antenna switch 71 is connected between the antenna 61and the circuit 81, and is also connected to the AC-DC converter 421.The processor 401 controls a connection state between the antenna 61 andthe circuit 81 by controlling a state of the antenna switch 71.

The second communication 412 includes an antenna 62, an antenna switch72, and a circuit 82. The antenna 62 is an antenna that can transmit andreceive by using microwaves as electromagnetic waves. The circuit 82executes processing of transmission and reception regarding wirelesscommunication using microwaves on the basis of a control of theprocessor 401. The antenna switch 72 is connected between the antenna 62and the circuit 82. The processor 401 controls states of the antenna 62and the circuit 82 by controlling a state of the antenna switch 72.

The third communication interface 413 includes an antenna 63, an antennaswitch 73, and a circuit 83. The antenna 63 is an antenna that cantransmit and receive by using electromagnetic waves corresponding toBluetooth. The circuit 83 executes processing of transmission andreception regarding wireless communication of Bluetooth on the basis ofa control of the processor 401. The antenna switch 73 is connectedbetween the antenna 63 and the circuit 83. The processor 401 controlsstates of the antenna 63 and the circuit 83 by controlling a state ofthe antenna switch 73.

In the first embodiment, the antenna 61 of the first communicationinterface 411 is a shared antenna that can address both wireless datacommunication and wireless power transfer. With respect to this sharedantenna, wireless data communication and wireless power transfer can beswitched in accordance with the state of the antenna switch 71. Forexample, when the wireless data communication is executed with respectto the first communication interface 411, it is set to a state where theantenna 61 and the circuit 81 are connected to each other by the antennaswitch 71. For example, the circuit 81 processes information from, theprocessor 401 to send a transmitting signal to the antenna 61, andprocesses a receiving signal from the antenna 61 to send information tothe processor 401. When the wireless power transfer is executed, it isset to a state where the antenna 61 and the AC-DC converter 421 areconnected to each other by the antenna switch 71. In case of wirelesspower transfer, AC electric power received by the antenna 61 isconverted into DC electric power by the AC-DC converter 421, and ischarged to the battery 423 via the charging control circuit 422.

The communication controller 401A controls protocol processing of awireless communication interface. The communication controller 401Adetermines necessity of wireless data communication to generate awireless data communication request (=a connection request).

The electric power manager 401B monitors and manages a state such as aremaining amount of the battery 423 and a state of electric power;determines necessity of wireless power transfer on the basis of thestate; and generates a request of the wireless power transfer if needed.

The antenna controller 401C controls switching of the antenna switches71 to 73 in accordance with schedule information J4 so as to select anduse the antenna and the circuit of the communication interface 410.

The schedule manager 401D stores, in the memory 402, the scheduleinformation J4 containing wireless resource allocation obtained from,the narrow-area base station 2 or the wireless power transmitter 3, andmanages it. The schedule manager 401D controls execution of the wirelessdata communication and the wireless power transfer in accordance withthe schedule information J4.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus (1-2) Wireless Communication Method]

An example of a wireless communication method and a wirelesscommunication interface corresponding to implementation in thecommunication controller 401A and the communication interface 410 of thewireless terminal apparatus 4 is as follows. (1) Wi-Fi (registeredtrademark), (2) LTE (registered trademark), (3) WiGig (registeredtrademark), (4) WiMAX (registered trademark), (5) Bluetooth, and (6) 5GNR (New Radio) of 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). Inparticular, the WiGig and the New Radio are a communication systemcorresponding to electromagnetic waves in a millimeter wave band. Thefirst communication interface 411 has implementation that accepts theWiGig or the New Radio. The second communication interface 412 hasimplementation that accepts the Wi-Fi, the LTE, and the WiMAX. The thirdcommunication interface 413 has implementation that accepts theBluetooth. The third communication interface 413 accepts other wirelesscommunication interface than a mobile network.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus (1-3)—Antenna Switch]

FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration example regarding an antenna 61, anantenna switch 71, and a circuit 81 of a first communication interface411 in a wireless terminal apparatus 4. In the present embodiment, anantenna 61-1 and an antenna 61-2 are provided as two antennas 61 thataccepts the millimeter wave band. The circuit (wireless IC) 81 includesan RF IC 81-1 (RE: Radio Frequency) and a base band IC 81-2.

The antenna switch 71 has eight terminals indicated by numbers #1 to #8.The two terminals #5 and #6 are respectively connected to the antennas61 (61-1, 61-2). The AC-DC converter 421 (that is, wireless powertransfer side) is connected to the two terminals #1 and #3. The RF IC81-1 (that is, wireless data communication side) is connected to the twoterminal #2 and #4. The processor 401 (in particular, the antennacontroller 401C) is connected to control terminals that are the twoterminals #7 and #8.

Connection destinations (#1, #2, #3, and #4) of the switch in theantenna switch 71 are selected by an input of a control signal from, theantenna controller 401C to the control terminals (#7, #8). A table 701indicates a truth table of the antenna switch 71. Depending upon whetheran input of each of the control terminals (#7 and #8) is “H” (High) or“L” (Low) in the cable 701, a wireless power transfer side or a wirelessdata communication side is selected as the connection destination of theswitch, that is the connection destination of the antenna 61. The inputof #7 is used for switching regarding the antenna 61-1 (#5), and theinput of #8 is used for switching regarding the antenna 61-2 (#6). Forexample, in a case where the inputs of (#7, #8) are (H, H), (#1, #3) areselected as the connection destinations of the antenna 61-1, 61-2.Namely, both the two antennas are connected to the AC-DC converter 421(the wireless power transfer side). In case of (L, L), (#2, #4) areselected as the connection destinations of the antenna 61-1, 61-2.Namely, both the two antennas are connected to the RF IC 81-1 (thewireless data communication side). In case of (H, L), the antenna 61-1is connected to the wireless power transfer side, and the antenna 61-2is connected to the wireless data communication side. In case of (L, H),the antenna 61-1 is connected to the wireless data communication, andthe antenna 61-2 is connected to the wireless power transfer. Note thatthe switch in the antenna switch can take an off state in accordancewith a control. For example, in a case where the switch to which theantenna 61-1 is connected is in the off state, it becomes a state whereany of the terminals #1 and #2 is not connected to the terminal #5. Inthis off state, both the wireless power transfer and the wireless datacommunication are not executed.

The processor 401 (in particular, the schedule manager 401D) obtains theschedule information J4 from the narrow-area base station 2 or thewireless power transmitter 3, and stores it in the memory 402. Theschedule manager 401D controls execution of the wireless datacommunication and the wireless power transfer in accordance with theschedule information J4 of the memory 402 in cooperation with theantenna controller 401C and the like. In accordance with a control, theantenna controller 401C gives a control signal to the antenna switch 71.In accordance with the control, the communication controller 401Acontrols an operation of the circuit 81. In accordance with the control,the electric power manager 401B controls an operation of the chargingcontrol circuit 422.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus (1-4)—Modification Example]

FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration of a wireless terminal apparatus 4according to a modification example with respect to FIG. 6 . Amodification example illustrated in FIG. 8 has a difference with theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 6 as follows. In this wirelessterminal apparatus 4, two of a first AC-DC converter 421-1 and a secondAC-DC converter 421-2 are provided in parallel as AC-DC converters. Inthe communication interface 410, the antenna switch 71 of the firstcommunication interface 411 is connected to the first AC-DC converter421-1, and the antenna switch 72 of the second communication interface412 is connected to the second AC-DC converter 421-2. Namely, thisconfiguration allows charging to the battery 423 from either the firstcommunication interface 411 for a millimeter wave band or the secondcommunication interface 412 for a microwave band.

In this modification example, each of the antenna 61 of the firstcommunication interface 411 and the antenna 62 of the secondcommunication interface 412 is a shared antenna that can accept bothwireless data communication and wireless power transfer. With respect tothis shared antenna, the wireless data communication and the wirelesspower transfer can be switched in accordance with states of the antennaswitches 71, 72.

The configuration of the AC-DC converter is not limited to this, and anyis possible. These two AC-DC converters can be configured so as to beintegrated into and shared one AC-DC converter. However, in case of theshared configuration, the first communication interface 411 accepts themillimeter wave band and the second communication interface 412 acceptsa microwave band. For this reason, it is necessary to use a wide bandAC-DC converter.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus (1-5)—Appearance]

FIG. 9 illustrates a configuration example regarding appearance of thewireless terminal apparatus 4, in particular, a configuration exampleregarding an antenna in case of a smartphone. (A) of FIG. 9 illustratesa configuration of a plane (referred to as an “x-y plane”) of a frontface s1 side, which is a side that has a display screen, of a housing ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4, and (B) illustrates a configurationof the plane of a back face s2 side. An x direction corresponds to ashort side, and a y direction corresponds to a long side. A displayscreen 900 of the touch panel that is the display 407 is provided on thefront face s1 as a main rectangular area. A home button 903, an incamera 404-1 (in particular, a lens unit) of the camera 404, the speaker406, and the like are provided in a frame area that is provided outsidethe display screen 900 on the front face s1. The microphone 405 and thelike (not illustrated in the drawing) is provided in the vicinity of aside face of the housing. An out camera 404-2 (in particular, a lensunit) of the camera 404, and the like are provided on the back face s2.

Further, although they are illustrated by a broken line, the antennas 62(62-1, 62-2) of the second communication interface 412 for a microwaveband are provided in the housing of the wireless terminal apparatus 4.In the present embodiment, the two antennas 62-1, 62-2 are provided atupper and lower locations of the long side (the y direction) in theframe area in a plane view of the front face s1 and the back face s2 ofthe housing. In particular, the antenna 62-1 at the upper side is anantenna that accepts the Wi-Fi, and the antenna 62-2 at the lower sideis an antenna that accepts the LTE and the New Radio.

Further, the antennas 61 (61-1 to 61-4) of the first communicationinterface 411 for the millimeter wave band are provided within thehousing of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 in a state where a partthereof is exposed to the front face s1 and the back face s2. In thepresent embodiment, total four antennas 61-1 to 61-4 are particularlyprovided as an exposed antenna unit at right and left locations of upperand lower sides in the long side (the y direction) of the frame area.Specifically, the antenna 61-1 is provided at an upper right location ofthe front face s1; the antenna 61-2 is provided at a lower left locationof the front face s1; the antenna 61-3 is provided at an upper rightlocation of the back face s2; and the antenna 61-4 is provided at alower left location of the back face s2.

FIG. 10 illustrates a part of a cross section (referred to as an “x-zplane”) of an A-A line at the lower side of the front face s1illustrated in (A) of FIG. 9 . The antennas 61 (61-2, 62-4) for themillimeter wave band are respectively implemented at the front face s1side and the back face s2 side on a substrate 1001 within the housing ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4. Each of the antennas 61 is configuredby components such as an antenna element 611, an LED element 612 (a partof the LED 408), or an optical guiding part 613. For example, theantenna 61-2 of the front face s1 includes an antenna element 611-2, anLED element 612-2, and an optical guiding part 613-2. The antenna 61-4of the back face s2 includes an antenna element 611-4, an LED element612-4, and an optical guiding part 613-4.

The optical guiding part 613 is transparent, and guides light emissionof the LED element 612 to emit the light to the outside from a regionwhere a part is exposed from the front face s1 or the back face s2 (thatis, the location of the antenna unit illustrated in FIG. 9 ). Therespective components are arranged so that the optical guiding part 613overlaps the upper side of the antenna element 611 in a thicknessdirection (a z direction) of the housing. A surface of the opticalguiding part 613 exposes so as to become substantially the same surfaceas the front face s1 or the back face s2.

When the antenna 61 for the millimeter wave band is used, for example,the processor 401 controls the LED element 612 so as to emit lightduring wireless power transfer. This causes the optical guiding part 613of the antenna 61 on the front face s1 or the back face s2 to emitlight. A location of the optical guiding part 613 corresponds to alocation of the antenna element 611. This makes it possible to easilylet the user know the location of the antenna 61 for millimeter waves(the antenna unit) by means of light. The antennas 61 (61-1, 61-3) ofthe upper side portion are also configured in the similar manner.

[Wireless Power Transmitter (1-1)]

FIG. 11 illustrates a block configuration of the wireless powertransmitter 3. The wireless power transmitter 3 includes a processor301, a memory 302, a sensor 303, a camera 304, a display 307, an LED308, a communication interface 310, a first power transmitter 311, asecond power transmitter 312, a power source control circuit 321, apower source 322, and the like.

The processor 301 is configured by a CPU or the like, and executes acontrol of the whole wireless power transmitter 3 to control powertransmission (that is, transmission of electromagnetic waves duringwireless power transfer. During the wireless power transfer, theprocessor 301 controls to supply electric power to the powertransmitters (the first power transmitter 311, the second powertransmitter 312) from the power source 322 via the power source controlcircuit 321. The processor 301 includes, as processing units performedby program processing or the like, a communication controller 301A, apower transmission controller 301B, a schedule manager 301C, and aterminal information manager 301D.

The communication interface 310 corresponds to a wireless communicationinterface device for executing wireless communication with thenarrow-area base station 2 or the wireless terminal apparatus 4. Thecommunication interface 310 includes an antenna 311A, an antenna switch311B, and a circuit (wireless IC) 311. The first power transmitter 311executes wireless power transfer by a millimeter wave band. The secondpower transmitter 312 executes wireless power transfer by a microwaveband. Each of the power transmitters includes an antenna, an antennaswitch, a circuit, and the like. The first power transmitter 311includes an antenna 311 a, an antenna switch 311 b, and a circuit 311 c.The second power transmitter 312 includes an antenna 312 a, an antennaswitch 312 b, and a circuit 312 c.

The communication controller 301A controls wireless communication of thecommunication interface 310. The power transmission controller 301Bcontrols wireless power transfer by the power transmitters (the firstpower transmitter 311, the second power transmitter 312). The schedulemanager 301C stores, in the memory 302, the schedule information J3obtained from the narrow-area base station 2, and manages it. Theschedule manager 301C controls execution of the wireless power transferin accordance with the schedule information J3 in cooperation with therespective units. The terminal information manager 301D obtains terminalinformation JT from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 to store it in thememory 302, and grasps and manages a state of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 on the basis of the terminal information CT and the like.

[Wireless Power Transmitter (1-2)]

FIG. 12 illustrates a configuration example of appearance of thewireless power transmitter 3. (A) of FIG. 12 illustrates theconfiguration in a perspective view, (B) thereof illustrates theconfiguration in a plane view from a vertically upper side. Aschematically triangular prism-shaped antenna unit 331 is provided inthe wireless power transmitter 3 with respect to a column 330 that is abody thereof. An antenna 362 that is a microwave antenna that accepts amicrowave band is provided on vertex faces of the column 330 and theantenna unit 331. The antenna 362 has a disk shape, for example. Thisantenna 362 corresponds to the antenna 312 a of the second powertransmitter 312 illustrated in FIG. 11 .

Further, antennas A1, A2, and A3 are provided on three side surfaces ofthe triangular prism of the antenna unit 331 as three antennas 361 eachof which is a millimeter wave antenna that accepts a millimeter waveband. These antennas 361 (A1 to A3) correspond to the antenna 311A ofthe first power transmitter 311 illustrated in FIG. 11 , and each of theantennas 361 (A1 to A3) is configured by an array antenna. Namely,although it is not illustrated, a plurality of small antennas (arrayantenna elements) is arranged on a surface of the antenna A1, forexample.

In (B), the respective antennas A1 to A3 of the antennas 361 arerespectively directed to directions, in the present embodiment,directions d1 to d3 obtained by dividing 360 degrees in a horizontaldirection into three. A direction of the antenna 361 and a direction ofeach of the side surfaces mean a direction perpendicular to the face.Further, by configuring the antenna unit 331 so as to be capable ofrotating with respect to the column 330, it becomes possible for theuser to adjust the directions of the three side surfaces of the antenna361.

Further, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in (A) of FIG. 12 ,cameras 304 (304-1 to 304-3) are provided on the surfaces of theantennas 361 (A1 to A3). For example, each of the cameras 304 (inparticular, lens units) is provided at a position near an upper side ofeach of the side surfaces, the position avoiding the corresponding arrayantenna element. A photographing direction of each of the cameras 304(that is, an optical axis of each of the lens units) is the same as thedirection d1 to d3 of the corresponding antenna A1 to A3 and thecorresponding side surface. The wireless power transmitter 3 can grasp,on the basis of an image of the camera 304, existence and the location(in particular, the positions of the antenna 61 described above) of thewireless terminal apparatus 4 that is a target of the wireless powertransfer. In particular, the wireless power transmitter 3 can graspwhether there is the antenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4within a predetermined range centered on any of the directions (thedirections d1 to d3) of the antenna 361 (A1 to A3) or not and whetherthere is no shielding object in the direction or not.

The configuration of the wireless power transmitter 3 is not limited tothe configuration example described above, and any configuration exampleis possible. For example, the wireless power transmitter 3 may beconfigured so as not to include the cameras 304. Further, for example,the antennas 361 and the antenna unit 331 may be configured so as tohave four or more side surfaces and four or more directions, or may beconfigured so as to have two or less side surface(s) and two or lessdirection (s). Further, for example, the position of each of the cameras304 may be a central position of the surface of each of the antennas361, or may be the other position of the surface of each of the antennas361.

[Millimeter Wave Wireless Power Transfer and Relationship of Line ofSight (1)]

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a location relationship between thewireless power transmitter 3 and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 in acase where wireless power transfer using millimeter waves is executed.(A) of FIG. 13 illustrates an outline in a perspective view, inparticular, illustrates a “relationship of Line of Sight (LOS)” betweenthe antenna 361 for a millimeter wave band (for example, the antenna A1)of the wireless power transmitter 3 and the antenna 61 for themillimeter wave band of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. In a space, arough location of the wireless power transmitter 3 is set to a locationP3, and a rough location of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is set toa location P4. A distance between the location P3 and the location P4 isseveral meters or shorter.

In the present embodiment, the antenna A1 of the wireless powertransmitter 3 and the antennas 61 (61-1, 61-2) on the front face s1 ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4 are disposed so as to roughly faceeach other. A line E1 is a line connecting the antenna A1 to the antenna61-1, and a line E2 is a line connecting the antenna A1 to the antenna61-2. In a case where such a direction of the line between the antennasis within a predetermined range sufficiently close to the direction d1of the antenna A1, it is possible to execute the wireless power transferusing the millimeter wave efficiently. In a case where such a directionof the line between the antennas is outside the predetermined rangecentered on the direction d1 of the antenna A1, the wireless powertransfer cannot be executed efficiently. Further, in a case where thereis a shielding object OB on the line between the antennas, themillimeter waves are shielded, whereby the wireless power transfercannot be executed efficiently or it becomes impossible to execute thewireless power transfer.

(B) of FIG. 13 illustrates an arrangement example when viewed from avertically upper side by overlooking. In particular, a case where theline E1 between the antennas substantially coincides with the directiond1 of the antenna A1 is illustrated. In this case, in particular, themost efficient wireless power transfer is possible by using the antenna61-1 corresponding to the line E1. Even in a case where the antenna 61-2corresponding to the line E2 is used, sufficiently efficient wirelesspower transfer is possible.

Further, in an arrangement example illustrated in (C) of FIG. 13 , inparticular, a case where there is no line that forms a “relationship ofLine of Sight” by which efficient wireless power transfer is possiblewith respect to the direction d1 of the antenna A1 is illustrated. Adirection perpendicular to the front face s1 of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 is indicated by a direction Ds1, and a directionperpendicular to the back face s2 thereof is indicated by a directionDs2. A direction of the antennas 61-1, 61-2 on the front face s1 is thesame as the direction Ds1. A direction of the antennas 61-3, 61-4 of theback face s2 is the same as the direction Ds2. In accordance with astate of the direction (or posture) of the wireless terminal apparatus4, it becomes a state where a difference between the direction d1 of theantenna A1 and any of the directions Ds1, Ds2 of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 is large. For that reason, a good “relationship of Line ofSight” cannot be formed.

As described above, in particular, in a case where wireless datacommunication or wireless power transfer is executed by usingelectromagnetic waves in the millimeter wave band, it is important thatthe wireless base station or the wireless power transmitter 3 and thewireless terminal apparatus 4 has a “relationship of Line of Sight”.Namely, in a case where transmission and reception of millimeter waveson a line connecting the wireless power transmitter 3 to the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 is considered, for example, the “relationship ofLine of Sight” indicates a state where no object that shields themillimeter waves intervenes on the straight line. Further, the“relationship of Line of Sight” indicates a state where a differencebetween the direction of the antenna of the wireless power transmitter 3and the direction of the antenna of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 issufficiently small. Further, the “relationship of Line of Sight”indicates a state where the antenna of the wireless power transmitter 3and the antenna of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 ideally face eachother in a state where there is no shielding object.

[Millimeter Wave Wireless Power Transfer and Relationship of Line ofSight (2)]

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a state when the user holds andoperates the wireless terminal apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 9 by hisor her hand. Electromagnetic waves in the millimeter wave band aresignificantly attenuated compared with electromagnetic waves of themicrowaves. For that reason, when the wireless power transfer in themillimeter wave band is executed, it is desirable that the antenna 61for the millimeter wave band is disposed so as not to be hidden by thehand or body of the user when viewed from the antenna 361 of thewireless power transmitter 3. Further, the electromagnetic waves in themillimeter wave band has higher straightness compared with theelectromagnetic waves of the microwaves. In other words, a directionalcharacteristic in the direction is stronger. For that reason, in orderto execute efficient wireless power transfer, high accuracy is requestedwith respect to a location relationship for the wireless power transferby the millimeter waves, that is, the location of each of the antennas61, 361.

In the example of the state illustrated in FIG. 14 , when the user holdsthe wireless terminal apparatus 4 by his or her left hand, the antennas61 (61-3, 61-4) for the millimeter waves on the back face s2 become astate where they are exposed without being hidden by his or her hand. Inother words, the locations of the antennas 61 are designed so that thecorresponding antenna is hardly hidden in such a handheld state. In thishandheld state, the antenna 61 can form the relationship of Line ofSight with the antenna 361 (FIG. 13 ) of the wireless power transmitter3.

Further, as in the present embodiment, in a case where a plurality ofantennas, in particular, the antennas 61 for the millimeter waves areconfigured so as to be provided at a plurality of different positions ina housing of the wireless terminal apparatus 4, a method of separatingthe antennas to be used can be applied at the time of scheduling. Inother words, the electromagnetic waves to be used are spatiallyseparated by separation of the antennas in this method. This makes itpossible to prevent or reduce interference between the electromagneticwaves. For example, in a case where a certain wireless terminalapparatus 4 requires to execute both wireless data communication usingmillimeter waves and wireless power transfer using millimeter waves, thefollowing can be executed as an example of scheduling. Namely, oneantenna (for example, the antenna 61-3) is allocated for the wirelessdata communication, and another antenna (for example, the antenna 61-4)is allocated for the wireless power transfer. In this case, it is alsopossible to execute the wireless data communication and the wirelesspower transfer in parallel at the same time by using these antennas.

[Wireless Terminal Apparatus—Processing Flow]

FIG. 15 illustrates a processing flow related to a control of chargingof the battery 423 in the wireless terminal apparatus 4. The flowillustrated in FIG. 15 includes Steps S401 to S414. Hereinafter, theprocessing flow will be described in the order of Steps. The presentprocessing flow corresponds to a function that automatic charging can beexecuted by using wireless power transfer when the remaining amount ofthe battery 423 becomes low. As a result, even in a case where the userforgets to charge the battery 423 via the AC adapter 424, the battery423 can be charged automatically if the wireless terminal apparatus 4exists within the area of the wireless power transmitter 3.

At S401, the electric power manager 401B (FIG. 6 ) of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 monitors a terminal voltage of the battery 423 viathe charging control circuit 422, and reads out its terminal voltagevalue (hereinafter, referred to as “VB”). At S402, the electric powermanager 401B uses a threshold value Vth1 and a threshold value Vth2(Vth1>Vth2), which are set in advance, regarding the terminal voltagevalue VP to determine the magnitude of the terminal voltage value VP atthat time with respect to each of their threshold values. In a casewhere it is determined that the terminal voltage value VP is smallerthan the threshold value Vth1(Y) (VP<Vth1, the processing flow proceedsto S403. At S403, the electric power manager 401B executes warningdisplay on the display 407. The warning display is display ofinformation for prompting the user to carry out charging, such as“Please charge the battery”, for example. Note that an audio output maybe used similarly. In a case where the electric power manager 401Bdetermines at S404 that the AC adapter 424 is connected to the battery423 within a predetermined time from, the warning display (Y), theprocessing flow proceeds to S405. In a case where the electric powermanager 401P determines at S404 that the AC adapter 424 is not connectedto the battery 423 therewithin (N), the processing flow proceeds toS406. At S405, the electric power manager 401B starts to charge thebattery 423 via the AC adapter 424 and the charging control circuit 422.

At S406, the electric power manager 401B reads out the terminal voltagevalue VB of the battery 423 again. In a case where the electric powermanager 401B determines at S407 that the terminal voltage value VB issmaller the threshold value Vth2 (Y) (VP<Vth2), the processing flowproceeds to S408. At S408, the electric power manager 401B executeswarning display on the display 407. The warning display is display ofinformation indicating execution of automatic charging, such as“Charging of battery is carried out”, for example.

At S409, the electric power manager 401B transmits a wireless powertransfer request, which is a charging request, to the narrow-area basestation 2. At S410, the electric power manager 401B receivesauthorization of wireless power transfer from the narrow-area basestation 2. At S411, the schedule manager 401D receives the scheduleinformation J4 from the narrow-area base station 2. At S412, theschedule manager 401D transmits schedule receipt notification to thenarrow-area base station 2. At S413, the antenna controller 401Cswitches, in accordance with the schedule information J4, the antennaswitch 71 so that the antenna 61 of the first communication interface411 is connected to the AC-DC converter 421 at a charging side (wirelesspower transfer side), for example. At S414, the electric power manager401B executes charging of the battery 423 on the basis of electric powerreceived from the antenna 61 via the AC-DC converter 421 and thecharging control circuit 422.

[Wireless Power Transmitter—Processing Flow]

FIG. 16 illustrates a processing flow related to a control of thewireless power transfer n the wireless power transmitter 3. The flowillustrated in FIG. 16 includes Steps S301 to S303. Hereinafter, theprocessing flow will be described in the order of Steps. At S301, thewireless power transmitter 3 confirms whether a wireless power transferrequest from the wireless terminal apparatus 4, the narrow-area basestation 2 or the wide-area base station 1 is received or not. In a casewhere it is confirmed that the wireless power transfer request isreceived (Y), the processing flow proceeds to S302. At S302, thewireless power transmitter 3 obtains the terminal information JTregarding the wireless terminal apparatus 4, which becomes a target bythe wireless power transfer request. Alternatively, the wireless powertransmitter 3 refers to the terminal information JT that has alreadybeen obtained in the memory 302. At S303, the wireless power transmitter3 determines whether wireless power transfer to the wireless powertransmitter 3 as a target can be executed or not on the basis of thewireless power transfer request and the terminal information JT. In acase where the wireless power transfer request is authorized, thewireless power transmitter transmits authorization of wireless powertransfer to the narrow-area base station 2 or the wide-area base station1. At S304, the wireless power transmitter 3 receives schedulenotification (the schedule information J3) from the narrow-area basestation 2 or the wide-area base station 1. The wireless powertransmitter 3 stores the obtained schedule information J3 in the memory302. At S305, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits the schedulereceipt notification to the narrow-area base station 2 or the wide-areabase station 1. At S306, the wireless power transmitter 3 controls astate of each of the power transmitters as preparation for wirelesspower transfer in accordance with the schedule information J3, andtransmits wireless power transfer start notification to the narrow-areabase station 2 or the wide-area base station 1. At S307, the wirelesspower transmitter 3 starts wireless power transfer for the wirelessterminal apparatus 4. At S308, the wireless power transmitter 3 stopsthe wireless power transfer for the wireless terminal apparatus 4, andtransmits wireless power transfer end notification to the narrow-areabase station 2 or the wide-area base station 1.

[Wireless Resource and Schedule]

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of wireless resources and schedule. In atable of FIG. 17 , wireless resources and schedules are represented by amatrix in which a horizontal axis thereof indicates times (time slots)and a vertical axis thereof indicates channels (frequencies). One cellin the table represents a wireless resource unit. In the presentembodiment, a case where there are a channel c1 (frequency f1) to achannel c12 (frequency f12) in an area 101 as a plurality of availablechannels (that is, frequencies) is illustrated. In the presentembodiment, a portion of times t1 to t12 is illustrated. A plurality ofwireless terminal apparatuses 4 (whose IDs=MT1 to MT5) (for example,five) exist within the area 101. The following is an example ofscheduling.

The channel c1 (the frequency f1) and the channel c2 (the frequency f2)are allocated to a wireless terminal apparatus MT1 for wireless datacommunication (indicated by a dot pattern) the times t1 to t12. Further,the channel c3 (the frequency f3) and the channel c4 (the frequency f4)are allocated to a wireless terminal apparatus MT2 for wireless datacommunication during the times t1 to t6, and the channel c3 (thefrequency f3) and the channel c4 (the frequency f4) are allocated to thewireless terminal apparatus MT2 for wireless power transfer (indicatedby a diagonal line pattern) during the times t7 to t12. Further, thechannel c5 (the frequency f5) and the channel c6 (the frequency f6) areallocated to a wireless terminal apparatus MT3 for wireless powertransfer during the times t1 to t12. Further, the channel c7 (thefrequency f7) and the channel c8 (the frequency f8) are allocated to awireless terminal apparatus MT4 for wireless power transfer during thetimes t1 to t6, and the channel c7 (the frequency f7) and the channel c8(the frequency f8) are allocated to the wireless terminal apparatus MT4for wireless data communication during the times t7 to t12. Further, thechannel c9 (the frequency f9) and the channel c10 (the frequency f10)are allocated to a wireless terminal apparatus MT5 for wireless datacommunication during the times t1 to t6, and the channel c11 (thefrequency f11) and the channel c12 (the frequency f12) are allocated tothe wireless terminal apparatus MT5 for wireless terminal apparatus MT5for during the times t7 to t12.

[Wireless Communication Sequence (1)]

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a sequence of wireless communicationin a case where a request of normal wireless data communication isgenerated. Note that scheduling regarding only wireless datacommunication (that is, wireless resource allocation) is executedherein. The flow illustrated in FIG. 18 includes Steps S11 to S20 below.

At S11, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a connectionrequest, which is a wireless data communication request, to thewide-area base station 1. The wide-area base station 1 grasps thewireless data communication request. At S12, the wide-area base station1 transmits information on the corresponding connection request to thenarrow-area base station 2. At S13, the narrow-area base station 2transmits the information on the corresponding connection request to thewireless power transmitter 3. In a case where connection to wirelessdata communication is authorized at S14, the wide-area base station 1transmits connection authorization notification to the wireless terminalapparatus 4. Further, at S15, the wide-area base station 1 transmits thecorresponding connection authorization notification to the narrow-areabase station 2. At S16, the narrow-area base station 2 transmitscorresponding connection authorization information to the wireless powertransmitter 3. At S17, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmitsconnection completion notification to the wide-area base station 1 onthe basis of reception of the connection authorization at S14. At S18,the wide-area base station 1 transmits the corresponding connectioncompletion notification to the narrow-area base station 2. At S19, thenarrow-area base station 2 transmits corresponding: connectioncompletion information to the wireless power transmitter 3. At S20, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 executes wireless data communicationthrough the wide-area base station 1.

As described above, the wireless power transmitter 3 and the narrow-areabase station 2 obtain and grasp information regarding a request forwireless data communication from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 and astate thereof through the wide-area base station 1. Note that asexamples of the content of normal wireless data communication, a casewhere the wireless terminal apparatus 4 makes a call to an externalwireless terminal apparatus and a case where the wireless terminalapparatus 4 receives a call from an external wireless terminal apparatusare cited. As another example, a case where transmission and receptionof data are executed between the wireless terminal apparatus 4 and anexternal server apparatus is cited. As still another example, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 executes communication with anotherwireless terminal apparatus 4 or the other device 6 that exist in thevicinity of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 within the area 101 iscited as illustrated in FIG. 2 .

[Wireless Communication Sequence (2)]

FIG. 19 illustrates one example of a sequence of wireless communication(hereinafter, referred to as a “first sequence”). The first sequenceillustrates a sequence of wireless communication in which the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 (whose ID=MT1) that is in a state where connectionof the wireless data communication (that is, connection to the wirelesscommunication network) has already been completed as illustrated in FIG.18 further receives wireless power transfer from the wireless powertransmitter 3 (whose ID=PS1). FIG. 19 illustrates operations such ascontrol communication among a wireless base station, the wireless powertransmitter 3 (PS1), and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 (MT1). Notethat the wide-area base station 1 and the narrow-area base station 2 arecombined into one and illustrated as a wireless base station. In thefirst sequence, a case where the wide-area base station 1 executesscheduling and a time division separation method and the like are usedwill be described as an example. The first sequence includes Steps S21to S32 below.

At S21, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is in a wirelessly connectedstate as illustrated in FIG. 18 . Namely, a certain wireless resource(for example, frequency F1) has already been allocated to the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 for the wireless data communication. At S22, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 determines necessity for charging of thebattery 423. In a case where it is determined that there is necessity,the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a wireless power transferrequest to the wide-area base station 1 together with terminalinformation JT thereof. The terminal information JT contains variouskinds of information such as an ID, a type, a position, deviceconfiguration information, or a state of the wireless terminal apparatus4. The device configuration information contains information on a typeof each of antennas and the number of antennas in the communicationinterface 410, for example. The state includes an electric power state,for example, a charging state of the battery 423. At S22, the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 may transmit the wireless power transfer request tothe wide-area base station 1 through the narrow-area base station 2, ormay transmit the wireless power transfer request directly to thewide-area base station 1.

At S23, the wide-area base station 1 receives and grasps the wirelesspower transfer request with the terminal information JT, and alsotransmits the corresponding wireless power transfer request to thewireless power transmitter 3 through the narrow-area base station 2. AtS24, in a case where execution of wireless power transfer regarding thereceived wireless power transfer request is to be authorized, thewireless power transmitter 3 transmits authorization of wireless powertransfer to the wide-area base station 1 through the narrow-area basestation 2. Information on wireless resources available for wirelesspower transfer of the wireless power transmitter 3 (such as time,frequency, or antennas) may be contained in information on authorizationof wireless power transfer.

At S25, the wide-area base station 1 executes scheduling regarding bothwireless power transfer and wireless data communication on the basis ofreception of the authorization of wireless power transfer. On the basisof wireless resources that can be used at that time, the wide-area basestation 1 creates a schedule (corresponding schedule information) sothat interference between the wireless power transfer and the wirelessdata communication is prevented or reduced. In the present embodiment,the wide-area base station 1 executes the latest scheduling on the basisof the frequency F1 that the wireless terminal apparatus 4 that hasalready been connected wirelessly allocates for the wireless datacommunication and wireless resources such as vadant frequencies at thattime. The latest scheduling contains reconsideration of an existingschedule. Information on allocation of the wireless resources for bothof the wireless data communication and the wireless power transfer iscontained in the schedule information. During the scheduling, wirelessresources (including time and frequency) regarding the requestedwireless power transfer are allocated on the basis of both importanceand priority of existing wireless data communication and importance andpriority of the requested wireless power transfer.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the wide-area base station 1switches the wireless terminal apparatus 4 from a state where wirelessdata communication is executed to a state where wireless power transferis executed by the time division separation method and a frequencydivision separation method. For example, the wide-area base station 1switches from a state where the second communication interface 412 ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4 executes wireless data communicationby using the antenna 62 for a microwave band and the frequency F1 to astate where the first communication interface 411 executes wirelesspower transfer by using the antenna 61 for a millimeter wave band andfrequency F2 (which is frequency different from the frequency F1). Inthis case, interference can be prevented by separating the time and thefrequency between the wireless data communication and the wireless powertransfer.

At S26, the wide-area base station 1 notifies the wireless terminalapparatus 4 of authorization of wireless power transfer after thewireless resource of the requested wireless power transfer is scheduled.Further, at S27, the wide-area base station 1 notifies each apparatus ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4, the narrow-area base station 2, andthe wireless power transmitter 3 of the latest schedule information thuscreated. Namely, each apparatus receives and grasps the scheduleinformation. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 obtains the scheduleinformation J4 described above, and the wireless power transmitter 3obtains the schedule information J3 described above. At S28, eachapparatus of the wireless terminal apparatus 4, the narrow-area basestation 2, and the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits schedulereceipt notification to the wide-area base station 1. The schedulereceipt notification is notification of confirming that the scheduleinformation is received.

At S29, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 executes switching of antennaswitches so as to switch a state of the communication interface 410 fromthe wireless data communication side to the wireless power transfer sidein accordance with the schedule information J4. Namely, the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 executes preparation for executing wireless powertransfer. At S30, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits wirelesspower transfer start notification to the wide-area base station 1through the narrow-area base station 2 in accordance with the scheduleinformation J3, and also transmits it to the wireless terminal apparatus4. At S31, the wireless power transmitter 3 starts the wireless powertransfer with the wireless terminal apparatus 4 in accordance with theschedule information J3. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 receives thewireless power transfer from the wireless power transmitter 3 to chargethe received electric power to the battery 423. At S32, in a case wherethe wireless power transfer is ended in accordance with the scheduleinformation J3, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits wirelesspower transfer end notification to the wide-area base station 1 throughthe narrow-area base station 2. The wide-area base station 1 receivesthe wireless power transfer end notification to grasp a state of each ofthe apparatuses. Thus, the wireless power transfer and the wireless datacommunication are scheduled so that the time and frequency to be usedare separated. Therefore, interference between the two is prevented.

[Wireless Communication Sequence (3)]

FIG. 20 illustrates another example of the sequence of wirelesscommunication (hereinafter, referred to as a “second sequence”). In thesecond sequence, scheduling in the following case is illustrated. A casewhere there are two wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41, 42) within apower transferable range of one wireless power transmitter 3 in an area101 is illustrated. It is assumed that the other wireless terminalapparatus 42 that has already been connected wirelessly generates awireless power transfer request in a state where one wireless terminalapparatus 41 receiving wireless power transfer at frequency F1. Thesequence illustrated FIG. 20 includes Steps S41 to S50 below.

At S41, the wireless terminal apparatus 41 is executing wireless powertransfer with the wireless power transmitter 3 in accordance with anexisting schedule by allocating the frequency F1. Further, the wirelessterminal apparatus 42 is in a state where it has already been connectedto wireless data communication by allocating predetermined frequency. AtS42, the wireless terminal apparatus 42 transmits a wireless powertransfer request to a wireless base station (a wide-area base station 1)on the basis of determination of necessity of charging, and thewide-area base station 1 transmits the corresponding wireless powertransfer request to the wireless power transmitter 3 through anarrow-area base station 2. At S43, the wireless power transmitter 3transmits authorization of wireless power transfer to the wide-area basestation 1 through the narrow-area base station 2.

At S44, the wide-area base station 1 executes scheduling on the basis ofgrasp of the wireless power transfer request and the authorization orwireless power transfer. At that time, the wide-area base station 1creates the latest schedule regarding wireless data communication andwireless power transfer on the basis of a state of allocation ofwireless resources to the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4(41, 42) and a state of vacant wireless resources. Specifically, in thepresent embodiment, the wide-area base station 1 allocates frequencydifferent from the frequency F1 of the wireless power transfer of thewireless terminal apparatus 41 in the same time zone, for example,frequency F2 as a wireless resource for the wireless power transfer ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 42 during scheduling. The presentembodiment is similar to the scheduling of the wireless terminalapparatuses MT2 and MT3 illustrated in FIG. 17 .

At S45, the wide-area base station 1 transmits the authorization ofwireless power transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus 42 and thewireless terminal apparatus 41. Note that in the present embodiment, thewide-area base station 1 transmits information on the correspondingauthorization of wireless power transfer not only to the wirelessterminal apparatus 42 that executed the wireless power transfer request,but also to the other wireless terminal apparatus 41. At S46, thewide-area base station 1 transmits schedule notification to thenarrow-area base station 2, the wireless power transmitter 3, thewireless terminal apparatus 41, and the wireless terminal apparatus 42.Note that in the present embodiment, the wide-area base station 1transmits the corresponding schedule notification not only to thewireless terminal apparatus 42, but also to the wireless terminalapparatus 41. The wireless power transmitter 3 obtains scheduleinformation J3, while the wireless terminal apparatus 41 and thewireless terminal apparatus 42 obtain schedule information J4.

At S47, each apparatus of the narrow-area base station 2, the wirelesspower transmitter 3, the wireless terminal apparatus 41, and thewireless terminal apparatus 42 transmits schedule receipt notificationto the wide area base station 1. At S48, the wireless terminal apparatus42 switches the antenna switch so that the antenna is connected to thewireless power transfer side to execute preparation of wireless powertransfer. At S49, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits wirelesspower transfer start notification to the wide-area base station 1through the narrow-area base station 2. The wide-area base station 1transmits the corresponding wireless power transfer start notificationto the wireless terminal apparatus 41 and the wireless terminalapparatus 42 through the narrow-area base station 2. The wireless powertransfer start notification at this time is notification that thewireless power transmitter 3 starts wireless power transfer for thewireless terminal apparatus 42 by using the frequency F2.

At S50, the wireless power transmitter 3 ongoingly continues thewireless power transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus 41 by usingthe frequency f1. The wireless power transmitter 3 newly starts wirelesspower transfer for the wireless terminal apparatus 42 by using thefrequency F2. The wireless terminal apparatus 42 receives the wirelesspower transfer at the frequency F2, rand charges received electric powerto the battery 423. Then, in a case where each wireless power transferis ended, the wireless resource is released on the basis of the wirelesspower transfer end notification. The wireless base station can use thereleased wireless resource at the time of new scheduling. As describedabove, in the example of the second sequence, it is possible to preventinterference by separating frequencies of the wireless power transfersfor the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 in the same timezone.

Note that the sequence in a case where the narrow-area base station 2and the wireless power transmitter 3 are separate bodies as illustratedin FIG. 1 is illustrated in the above. Even in a case where thenarrow-area base station 2 and the wireless power transmitter 3 areintegrated as the wireless base station power transmitter 5 asillustrated in FIG. 2 , similar control can be realized. In that case,wireless communication between the narrow-area base station 2 and thewireless power transmitter 3 can be reduced.

Further, in the above, the sequence in a case where the wide-area basestation 1 executes scheduling has been illustrated. However, even in acase where the narrow-area base station 2 or the wireless base stationpower transmitter 5 executes scheduling, similar control can berealized. Note that there may be a difference in a scheduling targetarea between a case where the wide-area base station 1 executes thescheduling and a case where the narrow-area base station 2 executes thescheduling. In a case where the narrow-area base station 2 executes thescheduling, the scheduling target area is limited to the area 101. In acase where the wide-area base station 1 executes the scheduling, thescheduling target area may be a wider area than the area 101.

In the second sequence, assuming cooperation among the plurality ofwireless terminal apparatuses 4, the method of notifying both thewireless terminal apparatus 41 and the wireless terminal apparatus 42 ofthe schedule notification and the wireless power transfer startnotification is adopted. However, the present invention is not limitedto this, and any method can be adopted. A method of notifying only thewireless terminal apparatus 42 as a target of the schedule notificationor the like may be used.

[Wireless Communication Sequence (4)—Highest Priority DataCommunication]

FIG. 21 illustrates still another example of the sequence of wirelesscommunication (hereinafter, referred to as a “third sequence”). In thepresent embodiment, a case where a request of a type of wireless datacommunication with higher importance and higher priority (referred to as“highest priority data communication”), which is distinguished fromnormal (in other words, general) wireless data communication is generateas wireless data communication is illustrated. In the presentembodiment, one wireless terminal apparatus 41 of a plurality (forexample, two) of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41, 42) in an area 101is in a state where it is receiving wireless power transfer from awireless power transmitter 3 by using frequency F1. At that time, a casewhere a request of the highest priority data communication is generatedin a state where the other wireless terminal apparatus 42 has alreadybeen connected to the wireless data communication is illustrated. Thesequence illustrated in FIG. 21 includes Steps S61 to S80 below.

Here, the highest priority data communication is wireless datacommunication (at least one communication of transmission or reception)has property of Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC).The URLLC is communication in which communication in real time iscontinued and non-disconnection is desirable. The URLLC is applied toremote surgery, automatic vehicle driving, and the like, for example.The URLLC is not limited to a control within a single narrow-area basestation 2 (the corresponding area 101) to which the wireless terminalapparatus 4 belongs, and may be communication with an apparatus such asanother wireless terminal apparatus 4 that exists within an area thatanother wide-area base station 1 different from, the wide-area basestation 1 to which the narrow-area base station 2 belongs hasjurisdiction over. The URLLC is supposed to be executed using allchannels of a millimeter wave band due to its nature, for example.

At S61, wireless power transfer for the wireless terminal apparatus 41is executed from the wireless power transmitter 3 by using the frequencyF1 on the basis of an existing schedule. Further, the wireless terminalapparatus 42 is in a state where it has already been connected bywireless data communication using predetermined frequency. At S62, thenarrow-area base station 2 receives an URLLC request from the wide-areabase station 1 as an interrupt signal. The wide-area base station 1receives the URLLC request from the other wide-area base station througha core network or the like. A target of the URLLC is the wirelessterminal apparatus 42. At S63, the wireless terminal apparatus 42 alsoreceives the URLLC request through the wide-area base station 1 atsubstantially the same time as the narrow-area base station 2.

At S64, the narrow-area base station 2 grasps that wireless datacommunication to the target wireless terminal apparatus 42 is of a highpriority type on the basis of the URLLC request. Further, at that time,the narrow-area base station 2 also grasps that the wireless terminalapparatus 41 is in a state during wireless power transfer. Thenarrow-area base station 2 determines that the URLLC should be given thehighest priority so that the URLLC does not interfere with the otherwireless data communication or the other wireless power transfer. Forthat reason, at S64, the narrow-area base station 2 first transmits awireless power transfer stop request regarding the executing wirelesspower transfer to the wireless power transmitter 3. At S65, the wirelesspower transmitter 3 immediately stops the wireless power transfer forthe wireless terminal apparatus 41 in accordance with reception of thewireless power transfer stop request. Further, at that time, thewireless power transmitter 3 transmits wireless power transfer stopnotification to the narrow-area base station 2 and the wireless terminalapparatus 41.

At S66, the wireless terminal apparatus 41 that receives the wirelesspower transfer stop notification switches the antenna switch so that theantenna is connected from the wireless power transfer side to thewireless data communication side. Note that at the time of a normalstate, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 standardizes the wireless datacommunication, and thus keeps a state where the antenna is connected tothe wireless data communication side.

At S67, the narrow-area base station 2 executes scheduling in view ofthe URLLC. For example, time and frequency are preferentially securedfor the URLLC of the wireless terminal apparatus 42. Then, at S68, thenarrow-area base station 2 starts the URLLC for the wireless terminalapparatus 42 together with schedule notification. Along with this, thewireless terminal apparatus 42 executes the wireless data communicationof the URLLC with an external device on the other side through thenarrow-area base station 2 and the wide-area base station. 1.

On the other hand, at S69, after the wireless power transfer is stoppedhalfway at S65, the wireless terminal apparatus 41 transmits a powerretransfer request, which is a request for restart of the wireless powertransfer, to the narrow-area base station 2 at regular timing, forexample. Alternatively, the wireless terminal apparatus 41 may transmitthe power retransfer request to the wireless power transmitter 3, andthe wireless power transmitter 3 may transmit the power retransferrequest corresponding to the narrow-area base station 2.

At S70, when the power retransfer request is received, the narrow-areabase station 2 determines whether the wireless power transfer isrestarted or not (in other words, authorized or not). In the presentembodiment, the narrow-area base station 2 determines that restart orauthorization is not executed in a state where the URLLC continues. Inthe present embodiment, in a case where the URLLC continues or is notended when the power retransfer request is received, the narrow-areabase station 2 does not transmit a response to the wireless terminalapparatus 41. Alternatively, the narrow-area base station 2 may transmita response of unauthorization. At S71, in a case where the URLLC isended, the URLLC end notification is transmitted from the wirelessterminal apparatus 42 to the narrow-area base station 2. Alternatively,the narrow-area base station 2 grasps an URLLC end state on the basis ofcommunication with the wide-area base station 1.

At S72, in case of a state where the URLLC is ended when the powerretransfer request is received, the narrow-area base station 2 executesscheduling again. Since a wireless resource for the URLLC is released inthis scheduling, the narrow-area base station 2 can create a newschedule by using the wireless resource. For example, for wireless powertransfer of the wireless terminal apparatus 41, the frequency F1 isallocated again. Note that at the time of this scheduling, a frequencydifferent from the previous frequency F1 may be allocated depending upona situation.

At S73, the narrow-area base station 2 transmits a wireless powertransfer request based on the new schedule to the wireless powertransmitter 3. At S74, in case of a state where the wireless powertransfer can be restarted, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmitsauthorization of the wireless power transfer to the narrow-area basestation 2. At S75, the narrow-area base station 2 transmitsauthorization of the wireless power transfer, which is authorization ofrestart of the wireless power transfer, to the wireless terminalapparatus 41. At S76, the narrow-area base station 2 transmits newschedule notification to the wireless power transmitter 3 and thewireless terminal apparatus 41. At S77, each of the wireless powertransmitter 3 and the wireless terminal apparatus 41 transmits schedulereceipt notification to the narrow-area base station 2. At S78, in acase where frequency or the like changes, the wireless terminalapparatus 41 addresses the change in accordance with scheduleinformation to switch the antenna switch so that the antenna isconnected to the wireless power transfer side.

At S79, the wireless power transmitter 3 transmits wireless powertransfer start notification to the wireless terminal apparatus 41. Thisnotification is notification that the wireless power transfer to thewireless terminal apparatus 41 is restarted using the frequency F1allocated by scheduling. The wireless power transmitter 3 then startsthe wireless power transfer with the wireless terminal apparatus 41 byusing the frequency F1. The wireless terminal apparatus 41 receives thewireless power transfer to charge received electric power into thebattery 423.

In the sequence described above, at S66, the wireless terminal apparatus41 switches the antenna from the wireless power transfer side to thewireless data communication side, and at S78, switches the antenna fromthe wireless data communication side to the wireless power transferside. The following may be a sequence of a modification example. At S66,the wireless terminal apparatus 41 does not switch the antenna from thewireless power transfer side to the wireless data communication side,and at S69, transmits a power retransfer request to the narrow-area basestation 2. Further, in a case where authorization of wireless powertransfer for restart is received at S75, the wireless terminal apparatus41 does not switch the antenna at S78, and restarts the wireless powertransfer. The present invention is not limited to the example of theURLLC described above. In a case where urgency, the degree ofimportance, priority and the like can be determined with respect to thetype or the content of the wireless data communication, scheduling andcontrol can be executed in accordance with the determination.

Scheduling Example

FIG. 22 illustrates a schedule example that also corresponds to theexample of the third sequence illustrated in FIGS. 21 . (A) and (B) ofFIG. 22 illustrates examples of a change in schedule information onwireless resource allocation before and after the URLLC request. In thepresent embodiment, there are twelve wireless terminal apparatuses 4(whose ID=MT1 to MT12) as the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses4 in the area 101, for example. In the schedule of (A), the wirelessterminal apparatus MT1 uses two channels of channels c12, c13 to receivewireless power transfer during time t1 to t12. The wireless terminalapparatus MT3 uses one channel c1 to execute general wireless datacommunication during time t1 to t10. Further, nine wireless terminalapparatuses 4 of the wireless terminal apparatuses MT4 to MT12 uses ninechannels of channel c2 to c10 to execute multiple-apparatus connectiondata communication (MMTC, indicated by a grid pattern) as illustrated inthe example of FIG. 2 .

In a case where a request of the URLLC is generated as the highestpriority communication for the wireless terminal apparatus MT2 as atarget, a schedule of (B) is created by scheduling. In the schedule of(B), the wireless terminal apparatus MT2 uses all the channels c1 to c12to execute the URLLC (indicated by a stripe pattern) at times t5, t6,t9, and t10. Due to the generation of the URLLC, the wireless powertransfer for the wireless terminal apparatus MTA using the channels c12,c13 is interrupted at the time t5. The general wireless datacommunication for the wireless terminal apparatus MT3 using the channelc1 is interrupted at the time of the URLLC. The MMTC for the wirelessterminal apparatuses MT4 to MT12 using the channels c2 to c10 isinterrupted at the time of the URLLC.

In a case where the URLLC for the wireless terminal apparatus MT2 viathe narrow-area base station 2 is ended, wireless power transfer for thewireless terminal apparatus MT1 using the channels c12, c13 is restartedat the time t12 immediately after a time of one cell. This is becausedata of the wireless terminal apparatus MT3 and data of the wirelessterminal apparatuses MT4 to MT12, which are interrupted by the URLLC andare time-shifted due to the scheduling of the narrow area base station2, are restored in the narrow-area base station 2 by an error correctiontechnique such as HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat request).

In the example described above, the wireless power transfer of thewireless terminal apparatus MT1 is restarted again using the wirelessresource at the same frequency after the URLLC is ended in the similarmanner illustrated in FIG. 21 . On the other hand, in another example ofscheduling, the narrow-area base station 2 manages the schedule togetherwith the states of the wireless terminal apparatus MT3 and the wirelessterminal apparatuses MT4 to MT12, whereby it is also possible to restartthe wireless power transfer for the wireless terminal apparatus MT1after the URLLC is ended.

[Location Managing Function]

In the first embodiment, each of the apparatuses of the wireless powertransfer system further includes a location managing function that is afunction for location grasping or location correction of each of theapparatuses related to wireless power transfer. This location managingfunction is a function that particularly realizes accuracy improvementof the wireless power transfer using a millimeter wave band. In thepresent system, before wireless power transfer using millimeter waves, alocation of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 when viewed from thewireless power transmitter 3 is obtained by correction using thisfunction on the basis of terminal location information possessed by thenarrow-area base station 2. The wireless power transmitter 3 can executethe wireless power transfer using the millimeter waves with highaccuracy by using the location on the basis of a relationship of Line ofSight.

FIG. 23 illustrates an explanatory drawing regarding the locationmanaging function. A case where one narrow-area base station 2, onewireless power transmitter 3, and one wireless terminal apparatus 4 areconnected to each other in an area 101. An absolute location (athree-dimensional coordinate indicating a location) of each apparatus isas follows. A location of the narrow-area base station 2 is referred toas a location P2, a location of the wireless power transmitter 3 isreferred to as a location P3, and a location of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 is referred to as a location P4. Further, a relativeposition (corresponding to a displacement amount or a vector) of thewireless terminal apparatus 4 when viewed from the narrow-area basestation 2 is referred to as a location L1. A, relative position of thewireless terminal apparatus 4 when viewed from the wireless powertransmitter 3 is referred to as a location L2. A relative position ofthe wireless power transmitter 3 when viewed from the narrow-area basestation 2 is referred to as a location L3.

When the wireless power transmitter 3 executes wireless power transferto the wireless terminal apparatus 4, in particular, executes wirelesspower transfer using millimeter waves, the wireless power transmitter 3needs to grasp the location of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as atarget with high accuracy. As illustrated in FIG. 13 described above,due to strength of a directional characteristic of the millimeter waves,a relationship of Line of Sight between the location P3 of the wirelesspower transmitter 3 (in particular, the antenna 361) and the location P4of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 (in particular, the antenna 61) isimportant for efficient wireless power transfer. Namely, it is desirablethat the wireless power transmitter 3 grasps the location L2 with highaccuracy. For that reason, the location managing function is used in thepresent system. The terminal information manager 301D illustrated inFIG. 11 also executes processing corresponding to the location managingfunction.

In a case where the wireless power transmitter 3 can obtain informationon the location L2 (or the location P4 of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 and the location P3 of the wireless power transmitter 3)directly from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 or the narrow-area basestation 2 as the terminal information JT, it is not necessary to usethis location managing function. For example, the wireless terminalapparatus 4 may provide the wireless power transmitter 3 with theterminal information JT containing its own location P4 obtained by usinga GPS with high accuracy or a sensor.

However, for example, in a case where the information obtained as thelocation of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 is only the location L1when viewed from the narrow-area base station 2, there is a locationdifference between the wireless power transmitter 3 and the narrow-areabase station 2, and it is different from the location L2 when viewedfrom the wireless power transmitter 3. For that reason, efficiency ofthe wireless power transfer based on the location L1 is lower than anideal value. Therefore, in the present system, the location managingfunction is used to obtain the information on the location L2 from theinformation on the location L1 and the location L3 by correction, andwireless power transfer based on the location L2 is executed. This makesit possible to execute more efficient wireless power transfer.

In FIG. 23 , the location L3 of the wireless power transmitter 3 whenviewed from the narrow-area base station 2 is registered in the presentsystem in advance as a setting when the system is installed. Each of thenarrow area base station 2 and the wireless power transmitter 3 has theinformation on the location L3. FIG. 23 includes Steps S231 to S234 as asequence regarding location correction.

At S231, when a wireless power transfer request is transmitted to thenarrow-area base station 2 or the wireless power transmitter 3, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits the terminal information JTthereto at the same time, for example. This terminal information JTcontains an ID and a type of the wireless terminal apparatus 4, anelectric power state including a state of the battery 423, locationinformation, device configuration information, and the like. In thissequence, this terminal information JT contains information on therelative location L1 when viewed from the narrow-area base station 2 asthe location information. The narrow-area base station 2 grasps thelocation L1 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 for wireless datacommunication as a basic function. Alternatively, this locationinformation on the location L1 may be location information grasped bythe wireless terminal apparatus 4 itself by means of the GPS with highaccuracy, the sensor or the other means.

At S252, the narrow-area base station 2 transmits the terminalinformation JT of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 to the wirelesspower transmitter 3. Alternatively, the wireless power transmitterrequests and obtains the terminal information JT from the narrow-areabase station 2. At S253, the wireless power transmitter 3 grasps thelocation L1 from the obtained terminal information JT. Further, thewireless power transmitter 3 grasps the location L3 of the wirelesspower transmitter 3 when viewed from the narrow-area base station 2. Thewireless power transmitter 3 then corrects the location L1 by using thelocation L3, thereby obtaining the location L2. A formula whenconsidered as a vector is L2=L1−L3. Further, the wireless powertransmitter 3 can grasp the location P4 of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 from the location L2 with respect to its own location P3.

At S254, the wireless power transmitter 3 uses the location L2 and thelocation P4 obtained at S253 to execute wireless power transfer ofmillimeter waves to the wireless terminal apparatus 4. At that time, thewireless power transmitter 3 selects the antenna 361 that becomes thebest location relationship with respect to the location L2 and thelocation P4, and executes the wireless power transfer of the millimeterwaves. Namely, as described above, for example, one that has a locationrelationship in which a difference between a direction of the antenna361 and a direction of the antenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus4 is the smallest is selected. Further, for example, the wireless powertransmitter 3 may adjust the direction of the antenna 361 so as to facea direction corresponding to the location L2 and the location P4, andexecute the wireless power transfer of the millimeter waves. In a casewhere the antenna 361 has a movable mechanism, such adjustment ispossible. Alternatively, the wireless power transmitter 3 may notify thewireless terminal apparatus 4 and cause the user to output a prompt soas to have a suitable location relationship corresponding to thelocation L2.

In the example of the location managing function described above, thelocation correction has been executed by the wireless power transmitter3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and anylocation correction is possible. In the modification example, thenarrow-area base station 2 or the wireless terminal apparatus 4 mayexecute the location correction. In a case where the narrow-area basestation 2 executes the location correction, the narrow-area base station2 calculates the location L2 from the location L1 and the location L3,and transmits the information on the location L2 to the wireless powertransmitter 3. In a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4executes the location correction, the wireless terminal apparatus 4obtains the information on the location L1 and the location L3 from thenarrow-area base station 2; calculates the location L2 from the locationL1 and the location L3; and transmits the information on the location L2to the wireless power transmitter 3.

Further, in case of the integrated wireless base station powertransmitter 5 illustrated in FIG. 2 , the location P3 is almost the sameas the location P2, that is, the location L1 is almost the same as thelocation L2. In this case, the location correction can be omitted.Further, in a case where the location L3 of the wireless powertransmitter 3 is changed in the area 101 due to movement by the user, asdescribed above, it may be grasped by using a location measuringfunction regarding the location L3. For example, the narrow-area basestation 2 uses an electromagnetic source of millimeter waves as a radarto grasp the location L3 of the wireless power transmitter 3 when viewedfrom the narrow-area base station 2. Alternatively, the wireless powertransmitter 3 uses the electromagnetic source of the millimeter waves asthe radar to grasp the location of the narrow-area base station 2 whenviewed from the wireless power transmitter 3 and obtain the location L3from the location.

Further, the narrow-area base station 2 may use the electromagneticsource of the millimeter waves as the radar to measure and grasp thelocation L1 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. Further, the wirelesspower transmitter 3 may use the electromagnetic source of the millimeterwaves as the radar to measure and grasp the location L2 of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4.

[Effect and the Like (1)]

As described above, according to the system including the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 and the wireless power transmitter 3 of the firstembodiment, it is possible to prevent or reduce interference between thewireless power transfer and the wireless data communication byscheduling, and this makes it possible to improve efficiency,reliability, and convenience of the user. According to the firstembodiment, by separating the time or the frequency of the wirelesspower transfer and the wireless data communication regarding one or moreapparatuses, it is possible to prevent or reduce the interferencethereof. Further, in particular, the first embodiment is a method ofexecuting the wireless power transfer by using the radio wavetransmitting method, and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 can bearranged within an area of a distance of about several meters withrespect to the wireless power transmitter 3, for example. Since it isnot limited to adjacent installation, it is highly convenient for theuser. Further, in the first embodiment, the wireless power transfer andthe wireless data communication using the millimeter wave band and themicrowave band are possible. The interference can be reduced for eachcombination. Further, in case of the wireless power transfer using themillimeter wave band, the relationship of Line of Sight is determined byusing the location managing function, whereby it is possible to heightenaccuracy thereof.

Modification Example

The following is applicable as a modification example of the firstembodiment. In the first embodiment, the wireless terminal apparatus 4determines charging necessity to generate a wireless power transferrequest. The present invention is not limited to this. In themodification example, the wireless power transmitter 3 may cooperatewith and communicate with the wireless terminal apparatus 4, anddetermine charging necessity of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 togenerate a wireless power transfer request. For example, the wirelesspower transmitter 3 obtains the terminal information JT from thewireless terminal apparatus 4, and determines necessity of wirelesspower transfer in accordance with an electric power state of thewireless terminal apparatus 4, which is indicated by the terminalinformation JT. The wireless power transmitter 3 then transmits thewireless power transfer request to a wireless base station for ascheduling request.

Further, the communication interface 410 of the wireless terminalapparatus 4 may be a communication interface that accepts one type ofwireless communication interface (for example, only a millimeter waveband, or only a microwave band). Further, one communication interfacemay include a single antenna.

Further, as the system according to the modification example, thewireless base station does not execute scheduling, but the wirelesspower transmitter 3 may be configured so as to execute the scheduling.In this configuration, the wireless power transmitter 3 graspsinformation on the wireless power transfer request from the wirelessterminal apparatus 4, and obtains and grasps information regarding arequest and a state of wireless data communication in cooperation withthe narrow area base station 2. The wireless power transmitter 3executes scheduling, or at least suitable scheduling of the wirelesspower transfer on the basis of the information so as to reduceinterference between the wireless power transfer and the wireless datacommunication. The wireless power transmitter 3 notifies the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 of created schedule information. The wirelessterminal apparatus 4 receives the wireless power transfer in accordancewith the schedule information.

Modification Example—Communication System (2)

FIG. 24 illustrates a second communication system in a system accordingto a modification example of the first embodiment. In the secondcommunication system, a narrow-area base station 2 executes scheduling.Further, in the second communication system, a wireless power transferrequest from a wireless terminal apparatus 4 is transmitted to awireless power transmitter 3. This modification example also allows toobtain the similar effects.

As communication procedures regarding a request of wireless powertransfer W1, procedures WR1 to WR4 are illustrated. In the procedureWR1, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a wireless powertransfer request to the wireless power transmitter 3. In the procedureWR2, the wireless power transmitter 3 grasps the wireless power transferrequest from, the wireless terminal apparatus 4, and transmits acorresponding wireless power transfer request to the narrow-area basestation 2. In the procedure WR3, the narrow-area base station 2 executesscheduling, and then transmits schedule information and the like to thewireless power transmitter 3. In the procedure WR4, the wireless powertransmitter 3 transmits the schedule information and the like to thewireless terminal apparatus 4.

Further, as communication procedures regarding a request for wirelessdata communication C1, procedures CR1 to CR3 are illustrated. In theprocedure CR1, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits a request forconnection to wireless data communication to the narrow area basestation 2. In the procedure CR2, the narrow-area base station 2communicates with the wide-area base station 1 to confirm connection towireless data communication, and executes scheduling. In the procedureCR3, the narrow-area base station 2 transmits schedule information andthe like to the wireless terminal apparatus 4.

The narrow-area base station 2 executes scheduling when each request isreceived. The wireless power transmitter 3 executes the wireless powertransfer W1 for the wireless terminal apparatus 4 with a first time T1and a first frequency F1 in accordance with obtained scheduleinformation J3. In corresponding thereto, the wireless terminalapparatus 4 receives the wireless power transfer W1 from the wirelesspower transmitter 3 in accordance with obtained schedule information J4.Further, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 executes, in accordance withthe schedule information J4, the wireless data communication C1 with asecond time T2 and a second frequency F2.

Second Embodiment

A wireless power transfer system including a wireless terminal apparatusand a wire less power transmitter according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 26 andFIG. 27 . Hereinafter, component parts of the second embodiment, whichare different from those of the first embodiment, will be described. Inthe second embodiment, at the time of wireless power transfer, anarrow-area base station 2 and a wireless power transmitter 3 do notactively cooperate with each other (including wireless communication fora control) unlike the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, thenarrow-area base station 2 and a wireless terminal apparatus 4 cooperatewith each other, and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 and the wirelesspower transmitter 3 cooperate with each other, thereby executing thewireless power transfer. Further, in the second embodiment, thenarrow-area base station 2 executes scheduling.

[Wireless Power Transfer System and Wireless Terminal Apparatus]

FIG. 26 illustrates a configuration example of the wireless powertransfer system according to the second embodiment. The narrow-area basestation 2, the wireless power transmitter 3, and a plurality (forexample, three) of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41 to 43) existwithin an area 101. Unlike the first embodiment, the wireless powertransmitter 3 does not actively cooperate with the narrow-area basestation 2. The wireless power transmitter 3 wirelessly communicates withthe wireless terminal apparatus 4 to cooperate with each other. Awireless base station (in particular, the narrow-area base station 2)includes a scheduling function 102. The wireless terminal apparatus 4includes a scheduling request function 104.

A configuration of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 according to thesecond embodiment is different from the configuration of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 according to the first embodiment in that theprocessor 401 illustrated in FIG. 8 further includes a wireless powertransfer manager 401E. The wireless power transfer manager 401E is apart that manages information (hereinafter, referred to as “wirelesspower transfer information JP”) necessary for the wireless terminalapparatus 4 to recognize the wireless power transmitter 3 and for thewireless terminal apparatus 4 to receive wireless power transfer fromthe wireless power transmitter 3. The wireless power transfer manager401E stores the wireless power transfer information JP in a memory 402.The wireless power transfer information JP contains wireless powertransmitter information obtained from the wireless power transmitter 3.The wireless power transmitter information contains an ID, a type, alocation, a state, and device configuration information of the wirelesspower transmitter 3. The device configuration information containsinformation on a type of each antenna and the number of antennas in apower transmitter. The wireless power transfer information JP maycontain information on a relative location of the wireless powertransmitter 3 when viewed from the wireless terminal apparatus 4. Thewireless terminal apparatus 4 grasped the relative location by using thelocation determining function described above.

[Wireless Communication Sequence]

FIG. 27 illustrates a sequence of wireless communication by the systemaccording to the second embodiment. This sequence is a sequence in whicha location L1 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 grasped by thenarrow-area base station 2 is corrected to a location L2 of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 when viewed from the wireless power transmitter 3,and wireless power transfer is then executed. This sequence includesSteps S81 to S88 below.

At S81, when a wireless power transfer request is executed for chargingthe battery 423, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 first transmits alocation information request, a wireless power transfer frequencysecuring request, and terminal information JT to the narrow-area basestation 2. The location information request is a request regarding thelocation L1 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 when viewed from thenarrow-area base station 2. The wireless power transfer frequencysecuring request is a request regarding allocation of wireless resourcessuch as frequencies for the wireless power transfer, in other words, itis a scheduling request. As described above, the terminal information JTis Information that contains an ID and a state of the wireless terminalapparatus 4, and does not contain location information.

At S82, in response to the wireless power transfer frequency securingrequest, the narrow-area base station 2 executes scheduling includingthe allocation of the wireless resources such as frequencies for thewireless power transfer on the basis of the state of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 indicated by the terminal information JT.Alternatively, in a case where the wide-area base station 1 executes thescheduling, the narrow-area base station 2 requests the wide-area basestation 1 for scheduling, and obtains schedule information of ascheduling result by the wide-area base station 1. This schedulingprevents or reduces interference between wireless data communication andwireless power transfer in the similar manner to the first embodiment.

At S83, the narrow-area base station 2 responds to the locationinformation request from the wireless terminal apparatus 4 to transmitinformation on the grasped location L1 to the wireless terminalapparatus 4. The narrow-area base station 2 transmits the scheduleinformation (corresponding schedule notification) to the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 as a response together with location information onthe location L1. At S84, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits thewireless power transfer request to the wireless power transmitter 3together with the information on the location L1 obtained from thenarrow-area base station 2 and the schedule information. At S85, thewireless power transmitter 3 obtains the location L2 of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 when viewed from the wireless power transmitter 3by correction using the location L1 obtained from the wireless terminalapparatus 4 and the location L3 that is a setting value. In particular,this location correction is effective at the time of wireless powertransfer using millimeter waves.

At S86, in a case where the wireless power transfer is authorized, thewireless power transmitter 3 transmits authorization of wireless powertransfer to the wireless terminal apparatus 4 in accordance with theschedule information obtained at S83. At S87, in accordance with theschedule information, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 switches theantenna switch so that the antenna to be used of the communicationinterface 410 is connected to the wireless power transfer side. At S88,the wireless bower transmitter 3 executes the wireless power transferwith the wireless terminal apparatus 4 toward the location L2 obtainedat S85 in accordance with the schedule information.

[Effect and the Like (2)]

As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possibleto obtain the similar effects to those of the first embodiment. In thesystem according to the second embodiment, at the time of the wirelesspower transfer, the narrow-area base station 2 and the wireless powertransmitter 3 do not actively cooperate with each other, and the similarfunctions to those in the first embodiment are realized mainly by thewireless terminal apparatus 4 in a form of intervening between thenarrow-area base station 2 and the wireless power transmitter 3.

Third. Embodiment

A wireless power transfer system including a wireless terminal apparatusand a wireless power transmitter according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 28 . In thethird embodiment, each apparatus includes a location determiningfunction using a camera. Further, in the third embodiment, a detailedexample of a case where an antenna dividing method is used as ascheduling method will be described.

[Location Determining Function Using Camera]

With respect to the location managing function described above, thefollowing functions can be used when a location L2 of a wirelessterminal apparatus 4 when viewed from a wireless power transmitter 3 isgrasped. Each apparatus of the present system may include a locationdetermining function that is a function to determine a location of eachof the other apparatuses by analyzing an image using a camera asdescribed below.

In a case where a narrow-area base station 2 includes a camera, alocation L1 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 and a location L3 ofthe wireless power transmitter 3 may be grasped by means of an analysisof an image photographed by the camera. Further, in a case where thewireless power transmitter 3 includes a camera 304, the location L2 ofthe wireless terminal apparatus 4 and a location of the narrow-area basestation 2 may be grasped by means of an analysis of an imagephotographed by the camera 304. In a case where the wireless terminalapparatus 4 includes a camera 404, the location of the wireless powertransmitter 3 and the location of the narrow-area base station 2 may begrasped by means of an analysis of an image photographed by the camera404.

The location determining function will be described with reference toFIG. 13 described above. For example, in (A) of FIG. 13 , each of thewireless power transmitter 3 and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 mayinclude a location determining function. By determining a relationshipof Line of Sight among the apparatuses using the location determiningfunction, it is possible to realize the wireless power transfer moreefficiently.

In a case where the wireless power transmitter 3 includes a locationdetermining function, the wireless power transmitter 3 photographs animage using the camera 304 at the time of the wireless power transfer.The wireless power transmitter 3 determines, from the image, whether thewireless terminal apparatus 4 as a target exists within a predeterminedarea centered on a direction of the camera 304 or not and whether thereis no shielding object OB (including a case where it is a person) in thevicinity of the line in the direction or not. In a case where thewireless terminal apparatus 4 as the target exists within the area inthe direction and there is no shielding object OB, the wireless powertransmitter 3 determines that the wireless power transfer can beexecuted efficiently, that is, it has a relationship of Line of Sight.In a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as the target does notexist within the area in the direction and there is a shielding objectOB, the wireless power transmitter 3 determines that the wireless powertransfer cannot be executed efficiently, that is, it does not have arelationship of Line of Sight. The wireless power transmitter 3 controlsthe wireless power transfer on the basis of a determination result.

Further, the wireless power transmitter 3 may transmit determinationresult information of the location determining function to a wirelessbase station (the narrow-area base station 2 and a wide-area basestation 1), and notify the wireless base station of it, whereby it maybe reflected to scheduling. For example, the wireless power transmitter3 transmits information containing whether there is a relationship ofLine of Sight with the wireless terminal apparatus 4 or not or alocation relationship to the wireless base station. The wireless basestation takes the information into consideration to create a scheduleincluding suitable wireless resource allocation. Further, the wirelesspower transmitter 3 may transmit the determination result informationand notify the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as the target of it.Further, the wireless power transmitter 3 may cause a user of thewireless terminal apparatus 4 to output a prompt so as to adjust thelocation and the direction of the wireless terminal apparatus 4.

In a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4 includes a locationdetermining function, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 photographs animage using a camera 404 when the wireless power transfer is received.The wireless terminal apparatus 4 determines, from the image, whetherthe wireless power transmitter 3 that becomes the other side or acandidate exists within a predetermined area centered on a direction ofthe camera 404 or not and whether there is no shielding object OB withinan area on a line of the direction or not. In a case where the wirelesspower transmitter 3 exists within the area in the direction and there isno shielding object OB, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 determinesthat the wireless power transfer can be received efficiently, that is,it has a relationship of Line of Sight. In a case where the wirelesspower transmitter 3 does not exist within the area in the direction andthere is a shielding object OB, the wireless terminal apparatus 4determines that the wireless power transfer can be received efficiently,that is, it has a relationship of Line of Sight. The wireless terminalapparatus 4 controls an operation of power reception of the wirelesspower transfer on the basis of a determination result.

Further, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 may transmit determinationresult information to the wireless base station (the narrow-area basestation 2 and the wide-area base station 1), and notify the wirelessbase station of it, it may be reflected to scheduling. For example, thewireless terminal apparatus 4 transmits information containing whetherthere is a relationship of Line of Sight with the wireless powertransmitter 3 or not or the location relationship to the wireless basestation. The wireless base station takes the information intoconsideration to create a schedule including suitable wireless resourceallocation. Further, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 may transmit thedetermination result information and notify the wireless powertransmitter 3 as the other side of it. Further, the wireless terminalapparatus 4 may cause a user to output a prompt so as to adjust thelocation and the direction of the wireless terminal apparatus 4.

[Antenna Location Determining Function]

Moreover, in particular, each apparatus of the present system mayinclude an antenna location determining function as the locationdetermining function described above. The antenna location determiningfunction is a function to determine a location of an antenna of theother apparatus by means of an analysis of an image of a camera. Theantenna location determining function will be described with referenceto FIG. 13 described above. For example, in (A) of FIG. 13 , each of thewireless power transmitter 3 and the wireless terminal apparatus 4 mayinclude the antenna location determining function. By determining arelationship of Line of Sight between antennas using the antennalocation determining function, wireless power transfer using millimeterwaves can be realized more efficiently.

In a case where the wire less power transmitter 3 includes the antennalocation determining function, the wireless power transmitter 3photographs an image using the camera 304 at the time of the wirelesspower transfer using the millimeter waves. The wireless powertransmitter 3 determines, from the image, whether an antenna 61 formillimeter waves of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as a target existswithin a predetermined area centered on a direction (for example, adirection d1) of an antenna 361 or not and whether there is no shieldingobject OB within the area in the direction or not. In a case where theantenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as the target existswithin the area in the direction and there is no shielding object OB,the wireless power transmitter 3 determines that the wireless powertransfer using the millimeter waves can be executed efficiently, thatis, it has a relationship of Line of Sight between the antennas. In acase where the antenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as thetarget does not exist within the area in the direction and there is ashielding object OB, the wireless power transmitter 3 determines thatthe wireless power transfer using the millimeter waves cannot beexecuted efficiently, that is, it does not have a relationship of Lineof Sight between the antennas. The wireless power transmitter 3 controlsthe wireless power transfer using the millimeter waves on the basis of adetermination result.

In a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4 includes the antennalocation determining function, the wireless terminal apparatus 4photographs an image using the camera 404 when the wireless powertransfer using the millimeter waves is received. The wireless terminalapparatus 4 determines, from the image, whether the antenna 361 of thewireless power transmitter 3 as the other side exists within apredetermined area centered on a direction of the antenna 61 or not andwhether there is no shielding object OB within an area on a line of thedirection or not. In a case where the antenna 361 of the wireless powertransmitter 3 exists within the area in the direction and there is noshielding object OB, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 determines thatthe wireless power transfer using the millimeter waves can be receivedefficiently, that is, it has a relationship of Line of Sight between theantennas. In a case where the antenna 361 of the wireless powertransmitter 3 as the target does not exist within the area in thedirection and there is a shielding object OB, the wireless terminalapparatus 4 determines that the wireless power transfer using themillimeter waves cannot be received efficiently, that is, it does nothave a relationship of Line of Sight between the antenna. The wirelessterminal apparatus 4 controls an operation of power reception of thewireless power transfer using the millimeter waves on the basis of adetermination result.

Similarly, with respect to the antenna location determining function,the wireless power transmitter 3 or the wireless terminal apparatus 4may transmit determination result information to a wireless basestation, and notify the wireless ruse station of it, whereby it may bereflected to scheduling. The wireless base station can execute thescheduling of an antenna dividing method, for example. Further, thewireless power transmitter 3 may transmit the determination resultinformation to the wireless terminal apparatus 4 as the target, andnotify the wireless terminal apparatus 4 of it. The wireless terminalapparatus 4 may transmit the determination result information to thewireless power transmitter 3 as the other side, and notify the wirelesspower transmitter 3 of it. The wireless terminal apparatus 4 may causethe user to output a prompt so as to adjust the location and thedirection of the antenna 61.

The camera 404 and the camera 304 described above may be a lenslesscamera or another sensor that serves as the similar function. Note thata three-dimensional location coordinate or a distance (that is, adistance from the camera) of an object (a corresponding characteristicpoint) in a camera image can be estimated from a location coordinate ofthe object on the basis of known calculation. In particular, whenelectromagnetic waves of a millimeter wave band are used, it isimportant that the wireless power transmitter 3 and the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 have a relationship of Line of Sight and a locationrelationship between the antennas is accurate. For that reason, it iseffective to use the location determining function described above.

Further, in a case where the wireless terminal apparatus 4 has theconfiguration such as the antenna 61 as illustrated in FIG. 9 and thewireless power transmitter 3 is provided with the camera 304, thefollowing can particularly be executed as the antenna locationdetermining function. When the wireless terminal apparatus 4 uses theantenna 61, the wireless terminal apparatus 4 causes the LED element 612described above (FIG. 10 ) to emit light, thereby transmitting alocation of the antenna 61. The wireless power transmitter 3 grasps andtracks the location of the antenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus4 from LED light in an image by analyzing the image of the camera 304.In a case where the camera 304 photographs a moving image, it ispossible to track the location from, each image of the moving image. Asa result, the wireless power transmitter 3 can grasp the location of theantenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 with high accuracy, andthis makes it possible to execute the wireless power transfer of themillimeter wave band on the basis of the grasp with higher accuracy. Asanother configuration example, an optical sensor may be provided in thewireless power transmitter 3 or the narrow-area base station 2 insteadof the camera. This optical sensor detects the LED light of an antennaunit of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. Further, for example,infrared light may be emitted from the antenna unit of the wirelessterminal apparatus 4, and a corresponding infrared sensor or the likemay be used.

Moreover, the wireless power transmitter 3 determines, on the basis ofthe image of the camera 304, a case where a shielding object OB(including a person) is recognized within a predetermined area on a linebetween the antenna 361 of the wireless power transmitter and theantenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4. Alternatively, thewireless power transmitter 3 determines a case where a person isrecognized in the vicinity of the area on the line or schematically inthe image. In these cases, the wireless power transmitter 3 executescontrols such that wireless power transfer is not started, wirelesspower transfer is stopped, or transmitted electric power is adjusted soas to be weakened. In a case where the wireless power transmitter 3 canconfirm a state where any person is not recognized between the antennas,the wireless power transmitter 3 executes controls such that wirelesspower transfer is started, wireless power transfer is restarted, ortransmitted electric power is restored.

Further, it is also effective to separate the plurality of antennas 61of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 between the wireless power transferand the wireless data communication at the time of scheduling on thebasis of a directional characteristic of millimeter waves. For example,in FIG. 14 , the antenna 61-4 for the millimeter waves is selected forthe wireless power transfer, and the antenna 61-3 is selected for thewireless data communication. As a result, the wireless power transferand the wireless data communication can be executed in a state of beingspatially separated by the antennas, and this makes it possible toprevent or reduce interference therebetween.

[Antenna Switch and Antenna Dividing Method]

FIG. 28 illustrates a configuration of the antenna switch 71 and thelike of the first communication interface 411 in the wireless terminalapparatus 4 according to the third embodiment. The first communicationinterface 411 includes four antennas 61-1, 61-2, 61-3, 61-4 asillustrated in FIG. 9 as the antennas 61 that accept the millimeter waveband. In corresponding thereto, this configuration has two antennaswitches 71 (71-1 and 71-2). A configuration of each of the antennaswitches 71 is similar to that in case of FIG. 7 , and has terminals ofnumbers #1 to #8, for example. The antennas 61-1 and 61-2 at a frontface s1 are connected to the antenna switch 71-1.

The antennas 61-3 and 61-4 at a back face s2 side are connected to theantenna switch 71-2. An AC-DC converter 421 and a circuit 81 arerespectively connected to connection destinations (#1 to #4) of theantenna switch 71-1 and the antenna switch 71-2. An antenna controller401C controls switching of the antenna switches 71 (71-1, 71-2).

An example of scheduling by the antenna dividing method is as follows.Among the plurality of antennas 61 corresponding to the millimeter waveband, one antenna 61 is allocated for wireless power transfer, andanother antenna 61 is allocated for wireless data communication. In anexample of a state illustrated in FIG. 30 , a connection destination ofthe antenna switch 71-2 is selected so that the antenna 61-4 isallocated for wireless power transfer and the antenna 61-3 is allocatedfor wireless data communication. Namely, by switches in the antennaswitch 71-2, each of the terminals #2, #3 is selected as “H”. As aresult, the antenna 61-3 is connected to the circuit 81 side, and theantenna 61-4 is connected to the AC-DC converter 421 side.

At the time of scheduling, as described above, for example, the locationdetermining function using the camera is used to determine therelationship of Line of Sight, and the antenna 61 is selected on thebasis of its determination result. In particular, the antenna 61 forwireless power transfer is selected so that the relationship of Line ofSight between the antenna of the wireless power transmitter 3 and theantenna 61 of the wireless terminal apparatus 4 becomes good.

[Effects and the Like (3)]

As described above, according to the third embodiment, it is possible toobtain the similar effects to those of the first embodiment. In thethird embodiment, by dividing the antennas to be used, it is possible toprevent or reduce the interference. In the third embodiment, it ispossible to heighten location accuracy at the time of the wireless powertransfer using the millimeter wave band, and this makes it possible torealize the wireless power transfer more efficiently.

Fourth Embodiment

A wireless power transfer system including a wireless terminal apparatusand a wireless power transmitter according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIG. 29 and FIG.30 . In the fourth embodiment, in a case where a plurality of wirelessterminal apparatuses exists within an area, with respect to a pluralityof wireless data communications and a plurality of wireless powertransfers, scheduling is executed so as to reduce interference.

[Scheduling Method (5)]

In the fourth embodiment, the following can be executed as a schedulingmethod. FIG. 29 illustrates the scheduling method and a configurationexample of the wireless power transfer system. In the wireless powertransfer system illustrated in FIG. 29 , similarly to FIG. 2 , aplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 exists a power transferablerange of one wireless power transmitter 3 (or a wireless base stationpower transmitter 5) within an area 101. A case where there are wirelessterminal apparatuses 41, 42, and 43 is illustrated as examples of theplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4, each of which may become acandidate that receives wireless power transfer. A case where theplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41 to 43) respectivelygenerates wireless power transfer requests (requests RQ1 to RQ3) inschematically the same time zone is illustrated. A wireless base station(a wide-area base station 1 and a narrow-area base station) and thewireless power transmitter 3 grasp the plurality of wireless powertransfer requests (requests RQ1 to RQ3). In the present embodiment,there are wireless data communications C1 to C3 and wireless powertransfers W1 to W3 as a whole.

An electric power manager 401B of each of the wireless terminalapparatuses 4 grasps an electric power state including a state of abattery 423. A terminal information manager 301D of the wireless powertransmitter 3 obtains terminal information JT containing the electricpower state from the electric power manager 401B of each of the wirelessterminal apparatuses 4 (41, 42, 43). For example, the terminalinformation JT contains information such as battery remaining electricpower or an electric power consumed amount rate in addition toinformation on an ID and a type of the wireless terminal apparatus 4.The electric power consumed amount rate is an electric power consumedamount rate by a usage application. The wireless power transmitter 3 orthe wireless base station grasps the electric power state of each of thewireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41 to 43) on the basis of the terminalinformation JT, and determines importance and priority regarding each ofthe wireless power transfers W1 to W3 on the basis of their electricpower states.

For example, it is assumed that battery remaining electric powers arerelatively small to large in the order of the wireless terminalapparatuses 41, 42, 43 as the electric power states of the wirelessterminal apparatuses 4. The wireless power transmitter 3 determines thatthe wireless power transfer regarding the wireless terminal apparatus 4whose battery remaining electric power is smaller is heightened aspriority. The wireless base station executes scheduling on the basis ofthis determination of the priority by the wireless power transmitter 3.In the present embodiment, a schedule in which wireless resources areallocated is created with the wireless terminal apparatus 41 as firstpriority, the wireless terminal apparatus 42 as second, priority, andthe wireless terminal apparatus 43 as third priority. For example, incase of a time division separation method, the wireless terminalapparatuses 4 are separated into the wireless power transfer W1 in afirst time, the wireless power transfer W2 in a next second time, andthe wireless power transfer W3 in a next third time, and the wirelessterminal apparatus 4 having lower priority is postponed. Further, in acase where available frequencies are limited, the frequency is allocatedfrom the wireless terminal apparatus 4 having high priority.

As another method of determining the priority, the priority may bedetermined on the basis of a type of the wireless terminal apparatus 4,a type of the application used by the wireless terminal apparatus 4, orthe number of times or frequency of wireless power transfers in ahistory of the wireless power transfers. Further, as still anothermethod, a method of setting priority regarding the wireless powertransfer in advance among the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses4 in the area 101 and executing scheduling on the basis of the settingmay be adopted.

[Scheduling Method (6)]

In the fourth embodiment, the following can also be executed as thescheduling method. FIG. 30 illustrates the scheduling method and aconfiguration example of the wireless power transfer system. In theconfiguration example illustrated in FIG. 30 , similarly to FIG. 3 , aplurality (for example, three) of wireless power transmitters 3 (31, 32,33) is provided within an area 101. A plurality of wireless terminalapparatuses 4 (for example, the wireless terminal apparatuses 41, 42,43) is provided with respect to these wireless power transmitters 3. Acase where the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses 4 (41 to 43)respectively generates wireless power transfer requests (requests RQ1 toRQ3) in schematically the same time zone is illustrated. A wireless basestation grasps the plurality of wireless power transfer requests(requests RQ1 to RQ3) in cooperation with the plurality of wirelessterminal apparatuses 4. In the present embodiment, there are wirelessdata communications C1 to C3 and wireless power transfers W1 to W3 as awhole.

The wireless base station, for example, the narrow-area base station 2executes scheduling with respect to the plurality of wireless powertransfer requests (requests RQ1 to RQ3). The narrow-area base station 2may determine priority in the similar manner to the example of FIG. 29 ,for example. The narrow-area base station 2 respectively allocatesdifferent frequencies F1 to F3 to the wireless power transfers W1 to W3by different channel numbers (that is, bandwidths) in accordance withthe priority, for example. For example, a large number of channels areallocated to the wireless power transfer W1 having high priority.

[Effects and the Like (4)]

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the effectssimilar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In the fourthembodiment, it becomes possible to execute wireless power transfersefficiently while preventing interference among the plurality ofwireless power transmitters 3 or among the plurality of wirelessterminal apparatuses 4.

As described above, the present invention has been explained concretelyon the basis of the embodiments. However, the present invention is notlimited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified intovarious forms without departing from the substance thereof.

REFERENCE SINGS LIST

-   -   1 . . . wide-area base station, 2 . . . narrow-area base        station, 3 . . . wireless power transmitter, 4 . . . wireless        terminal apparatus, 101 . . . area, 102 . . . scheduling        function, 103 . . . scheduling request function, 104 . . .        scheduling request function, W1 . . . wireless power transfer,        C1 (Ca, Cb) . . . wireless data communication.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless terminal apparatus constitutinga wireless power transfer system, the wireless power transfer systemcomprising: the wireless terminal apparatus as a target of wirelesspower transfer; a wireless power transmitter configured to execute thewireless power transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus; and awireless base station configured to relay wireless data communication ofthe wireless terminal apparatus, wherein the wireless base stationcreates schedule information on a basis of grasp of a request of thewireless data communication and a request of the wireless power transferof the wireless terminal apparatus, and transmits the scheduleinformation to the wireless power transmitter and the wireless terminalapparatus, the schedule information containing allocation of wirelessresources to the wireless data communication and the wireless powertransfer, wherein the wireless power transmitter executes the wirelesspower transfer to the wireless terminal apparatus in accordance with theschedule information, and wherein the wireless terminal apparatusreceives the wireless power transfer from the wireless power transmitterin accordance with the schedule information, and executes the wirelessdata communication via the wireless base station.
 2. The wirelessterminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless basestation creates the schedule information so as to divide a time of thewireless data communication and a time of the wireless power transfer,and wherein the wireless terminal apparatus executes the wireless datacommunication at the corresponding time according to the scheduleinformation, and receives the wireless power transfer.
 3. The wirelessterminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless basestation creates the schedule information so as to separate a frequencyof electromagnetic waves for the wireless data communication from afrequency of electromagnetic waves for the wireless power transfer, andwherein the wireless terminal apparatus executes the wireless datacommunication and receives the wireless power transfer at thecorresponding frequency according to the schedule information.
 4. Thewireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wirelessbase station creates the schedule information so as to separate anantenna used for the wireless data communication from an antenna usedfor the wireless power transfer, wherein the wireless terminal apparatusincludes a plurality of antennas, and wherein the wireless terminalapparatus executes the wireless data communication and receives thewireless power transfer by using the corresponding antenna according tothe schedule information.
 5. The wireless terminal apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the wireless power transfer system includes aplurality of wireless terminal apparatuses within an area as thewireless terminal apparatus, wherein the wireless base station createsthe schedule information so as to divide a time regarding a plurality ofwireless power transfers for the plurality of wireless terminalapparatuses, and wherein each of the wireless terminal apparatusesexecutes the wireless data communication and receives the wireless powertransfer at the corresponding time according to the scheduleinformation.
 6. The wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the wireless power transfer system includes a plurality ofwireless terminal apparatuses within an area as the wireless terminalapparatus, wherein the wireless base station creates the scheduleinformation so as to divide frequencies of electromagnetic wavesregarding a plurality of wireless power transfers for the plurality ofwireless terminal apparatuses, and wherein each of the wireless terminalapparatuses executes the wireless data communication and receives thewireless power transfer at the corresponding frequency according to theschedule information.
 7. The wireless terminal apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter executes the wirelesspower transfer using electromagnetic waves of a millimeter wave band,and wherein the wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless powertransfer using the electromagnetic waves of the millimeter wave hand. 8.The wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thewireless power transmitter includes a first power transmitter configuredto execute the wireless power transfer using electromagnetic waves of amillimeter wave band and a second power transmitter configured toexecute the wireless power transfer using electromagnetic waves of amicrowave band, wherein the wireless terminal apparatus includes a firstcommunication interface using the electromagnetic waves of themillimeter wave band and a second communication interface using theelectromagnetic waves of the microwave hand, wherein the wireless basestation creates the schedule information so as to separate a type ofelectromagnetic waves using the wireless data communication from a typeof electromagnetic waves using the wireless power transfer, and whereinthe wireless terminal apparatus executes the wireless data communicationand receives the wireless power transfer by using the communicationinterface corresponding to the type of the electromagnetic wavesaccording to the schedule information.
 9. The wireless terminalapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an antenna allowedto share between the wireless power transfer and the wireless datacommunication; a wireless power transfer circuit configured to charge abattery during the wireless power transfer; a wireless datacommunication circuit configured to execute transmitting and receivingprocesses during the wireless data communication; and a switch connectedamong the antenna, the wireless power transfer circuit, and the wirelessdata communication circuit, wherein in accordance with the scheduleinformation, the switch is switched so that the antenna is connected tothe wireless power transfer circuit when the wireless power transfer isreceives, and the switch is switched so that the antenna is connected tothe wireless data communication circuit when the wireless datacommunication is executed.
 10. The wireless terminal apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter that executes thewireless power transfer is grasped using a camera or a sensor when thewireless power transfer is received.
 11. The wireless terminal apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the wireless terminal apparatus transmitsthe schedule information received from the wireless base station to thewireless power transfer.
 12. The wireless terminal apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter obtains, from thewireless base station, request information regarding a request of thewireless data communication and a request of the wireless power transferof the wireless terminal apparatus; creates schedule information forpreventing or reducing interference regarding the wireless datacommunication and the wireless power transfer on a basis of grasp of therequest information; transmits the schedule information to the wirelessterminal apparatus; and executes the wireless power transfer to thewireless terminal apparatus in accordance with the schedule information,the schedule information containing allocation of wireless resources tothe wireless data communication and the wireless power transfer, whereinthe wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless power transferfrom the wireless power transmitter in accordance with the scheduleinformation.
 13. A wireless power transmitter constituting a wirelesspower transfer system, the wireless power transfer system comprising: awireless terminal apparatus as a target of wireless power transfer; thewireless power transmitter configured to execute wireless power transferto the wireless terminal apparatus; and a wireless base stationconfigured to relay wireless data communication of the wireless terminalapparatus, wherein the wireless base station creates scheduleinformation on a basis of grasp of a request of the wireless datacommunication and a request of the wireless power transfer of thewireless terminal apparatus, and transmits the schedule information tothe wireless power transmitter and the wireless terminal apparatus, theschedule information containing allocation of wireless resources to thewireless data communication and the wireless power transfer, wherein thewireless power transmitter executes the wireless power transfer to thewireless terminal apparatus in accordance with the schedule information,and wherein the wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless powertransfer from the wireless power transmitter in accordance with theschedule information, and executes the wireless data communication viathe wireless base station.
 14. The wireless power transmitter accordingto claim 13, wherein the wireless base station creates the scheduleinformation so as to divide a time of the wireless data communicationand a time of the wireless power transfer, and wherein the wirelesspower transmitter executes the wireless power transfer at thecorresponding time according to the schedule information.
 15. Thewireless power transmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wirelessbase station creates the schedule information so as to separate afrequency of electromagnetic waves for the wireless data communicationfrom a frequency of electromagnetic waves for the wireless powertransfer, and wherein the wireless power transmitter executes thewireless power transfer at the corresponding frequency according to theschedule information.
 16. The wireless power transmitter according toclaim 13, wherein the wireless base station creates the scheduleinformation so as to separate an antenna used for the wireless datacommunication from an antenna used for the wireless power transfer,wherein the wireless power transmitter includes a plurality of antennas,and executes the wireless power transfer by using the correspondingantenna according to the schedule information.
 17. The wireless powertransmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wireless power transfersystem includes a plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses within anarea as the wireless terminal apparatus, wherein the wireless basestation creates the schedule information so as to divide a timeregarding a plurality of wireless power transfers for the plurality ofwireless terminal apparatuses, and wherein the wireless powertransmitter executes the wireless power transfer at the correspondingtime according to the schedule information.
 18. The wireless powertransmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wireless power transfersystem includes a plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses within anarea as the wireless terminal apparatus, wherein the wireless basestation creates the schedule information so as to divide frequencies ofelectromagnetic waves regarding a plurality of wireless power transfersfor the plurality of wireless terminal apparatuses, and wherein thewireless power transmitter executes the wireless power transfer at thecorresponding frequency according to the schedule information.
 19. Thewireless power transmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wirelesspower transmitter executes the wireless power transfer usingelectromagnetic waves of a millimeter wave band, and wherein thewireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless power transfer usingthe electromagnetic waves of the millimeter wave band.
 20. The wirelesspower transmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wireless powertransmitter includes a first power transmitter configured to execute thewireless power transfer using electromagnetic waves of a millimeter waveband and a second power transmitter configured to execute the wirelesspower transfer using electromagnetic waves of a microwave band, whereinthe wireless terminal apparatus includes a first communication interfaceusing the electromagnetic waves of the millimeter wave band and a secondcommunication interface using the electromagnetic waves of the microwaveband, wherein the wireless base station creates the schedule informationso as to separate a type of electromagnetic waves using the wirelessdata communication from a type of electromagnetic waves using thewireless power transfer, and wherein the wireless power transmitterexecutes the wireless power transfer by using the power transmittercorresponding to the type of the electromagnetic waves according to theschedule information.
 21. The wireless power transmitter according toclaim 13, wherein a location of the wireless terminal apparatus whenviewed from the wireless power transmitter is calculated on a basis oflocation information indicating a location of the wireless terminalapparatus when viewed from the wireless base station, and the wirelesspower transfer is executed to the calculated location.
 22. The wirelesspower transmitter according to claim 13, wherein the wireless terminalapparatus as the target of the wireless power transfer grasped by usinga camera or a sensor when the wireless power transfer is executed. 23.The wireless power transmitter according to claim 13 wherein thewireless power transmitter receives the schedule information via thewireless terminal apparatus.
 24. The wireless power transmitteraccording to claim 13, wherein the wireless power transmitter obtains,from the wireless base station, request information regarding a requestof the wireless data communication of the wireless terminal apparatusand a request of the wireless power transfer; creates scheduleinformation for preventing or reducing interference regarding thewireless data communication and the wireless power transfer on a basisof grasp of the request information; transmits the schedule informationto the wireless terminal apparatus; and executes the wireless powertransfer to the wireless terminal apparatus in accordance with thewireless power transfer request and the schedule information, whereinthe wireless terminal apparatus receives the wireless power transferfrom the wireless power transmitter in accordance with the scheduleinformation.